OK - so Wednesday evening I'm sitting in the family room watching the news and Chelsey calls me. She says that DA is online so I should get to my computer. (I've never chatted online before!) So I head upstairs to the kitchen, start up the laptop, sign in to Yahoo Messenger and then she walks me through getting onto my webcam and then VOILE' there is DA in Iraq at the internet cafe and I can see him and he can see me sitting in my kitchen thousands of miles apart! It was AWESOME. We chatted for about 15 minutes and then his time ran out, but he was able to get back on about 20 minutes later and we chatted for about an hour. While we were online, I called J&C and J&B. Neither of them had their webcams set up, but Jess got online and chatted with DA for a while. He even got to see the Dad and KL. I was SOOOOOO excited. My typing was horendous because I was trying to watch him and type at the same time...this from someone who cannot walk and chew gum at the same time!! He didn't seem to care, though.
Shennie - does your laptop have a webcam?? If so, I will let you know when we are chatting with DA next so you can get on. You need to have Yahoo messenger. I think he usually gets on about 5-6pm CDT. It is 0 dark early in Iraq, but it is when he has just gotten off work.
Technology is great - especially when you know how to use it! Thanks heavens for my kids and their techno savvy spouses!
Oh - he did say he should have internet in his room soon, like in the next week or so, so then WE will be able to contact him insted of having to wait for him to contact us.
Anyway - it was GREAT to see him and "talk" to him. I hope we can do it again soon.
Love you & KYHD,
the Mom
Friday, March 28, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Happy Easter a Little Late!
I'm up bright and early today - it's opening day for the Red Sox! Of course, they're opening in Tokyo, Japan. They may be playing at a normal hour in Tokyo, but the first pitch was thrown out at 6:05 a.m. EDT. So, I decided to get up, throw in a load of laundry, do a little knitting, catch up on my blogging, and pay a couple bills - all in that order!
Easter was a nice day - though the weather was very chilly. At least the sun was out. I went to the early service at church (9:00 a.m.) so that I could get on the road to Conn. I had been invited to Cathy and Scott's for dinner. It was fun. The ride down wasn't bad and the directions were very easy. It was actually on the way to Silver Lake.
I was the first to arrive and was greeted by Scott and Norman - their long-haired dachshund. Bailey, their tailless cat, was in hiding somewhere - fine by me. Bruce arrived next bringing his world famous recipe - shrimp cocktail! Sheila, Dennis and Lisa finally showed up and the food began to appear from all corners. As usual, there was way too much food, but it was all good: ham, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, green bean casserole, carrot puff, rolls, grilled asparagus, pickles, olives. This was after the shrimp and cheese and crackers. Then, Cathy had been up early and produced two bunny rabbit cakes - carrot cakes decorated with cream cheese frosting and coconut all on a bed of green coconut surrounded by small chocolate rabbits and jelly beans.
I left exactly at 4 and thought I'd be home before 6 - that was until I hit the Mass Pike at 84! It was all backed up. Why, you ask? Because there was an accident on the OTHER side of the road several miles up and everyone on my side had to slow down and check to see what was happening on the other side of the highway. Let's erect high barriers between sides of the road so this type of thing can't happen.
Anyway, we had a great time. Ate way too much.
More later on - it's a busy week. Tomorrow, Barbara Morgan is visiting my Challenger Center (JJ is very jealous), so we're busy getting ready for that. I'm busy knitting - working on a wedding present and then have to start on the first of MANY blankets for my great niece or nephew.
Hope you're staying safe. Is the weather warming up?
KYHD - Love you,
Shennie
Easter was a nice day - though the weather was very chilly. At least the sun was out. I went to the early service at church (9:00 a.m.) so that I could get on the road to Conn. I had been invited to Cathy and Scott's for dinner. It was fun. The ride down wasn't bad and the directions were very easy. It was actually on the way to Silver Lake.
I was the first to arrive and was greeted by Scott and Norman - their long-haired dachshund. Bailey, their tailless cat, was in hiding somewhere - fine by me. Bruce arrived next bringing his world famous recipe - shrimp cocktail! Sheila, Dennis and Lisa finally showed up and the food began to appear from all corners. As usual, there was way too much food, but it was all good: ham, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, green bean casserole, carrot puff, rolls, grilled asparagus, pickles, olives. This was after the shrimp and cheese and crackers. Then, Cathy had been up early and produced two bunny rabbit cakes - carrot cakes decorated with cream cheese frosting and coconut all on a bed of green coconut surrounded by small chocolate rabbits and jelly beans.
I left exactly at 4 and thought I'd be home before 6 - that was until I hit the Mass Pike at 84! It was all backed up. Why, you ask? Because there was an accident on the OTHER side of the road several miles up and everyone on my side had to slow down and check to see what was happening on the other side of the highway. Let's erect high barriers between sides of the road so this type of thing can't happen.
Anyway, we had a great time. Ate way too much.
More later on - it's a busy week. Tomorrow, Barbara Morgan is visiting my Challenger Center (JJ is very jealous), so we're busy getting ready for that. I'm busy knitting - working on a wedding present and then have to start on the first of MANY blankets for my great niece or nephew.
Hope you're staying safe. Is the weather warming up?
KYHD - Love you,
Shennie
Sunday, March 23, 2008
What Everyone Needs to Read
Remember the book "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus"? Well, here's a prime example offered by an English professor at Southern Methodist University:
In-class Assignment for Wednesday:
Today we will experiment with a new form called the tandem story. The process is simple. Each person will pair off with the person sitting to his other immediate right. One of you will then write the first paragraph of a short story. The partner will read the first paragraph and then add another paragraph to the story. The first person will then add a third paragraph, and so on back and forth. Remember to re-read what has been written each time in order to keep the story coherent. The story is over when both agree a conclusion has been reached. The following was actually turned in by two of my English students, Rebecca [last name deleted] and Gary [last name deleted.] "
At first, Laurie couldn't decide which kind of tea she wanted. The chamomile, which used to be her favorite for lazy evenings at home, now reminded her too much of Carl, who once said, in happier times, that he liked chamomile. But she felt she must now, at all costs, keep her mind off Carl. His possessiveness was suffocating, and if she thought about him too much her asthma started acting up again. So chamomile was out of the question.
Meanwhile, Advance Sergeant Carl Harris, leader of the attack squadron now in orbit over Skylon 4, had more important things to think about than the neuroses of an air-headed asthmatic bimbo named Laurie with whom he had spent one sweaty night over a year ago. "A.S. Harris to Geostation 17," he said into his transgalactic communicator. "Polar orbit established. No sign of resistance so far..." But before he could sign off, a bluish particle beam flashed out of nowhere and blasted a hole through his ship's cargo bay. The jolt from the direct hit sent him flying out of his seat and across the cockpit.
He bumped his head and died almost immediately, but not before he felt one last pang of regret for psychically brutalizing the one woman who had ever had feelings for him. Soon afterwards, Earth stopped its pointless hostilities towards the peaceful farmers of Skylon 4. "Congress Passes Law Permanently Abolishing War and Space Travel," Laurie read in her newspaper one morning. The news simultaneously excited her and bored her. She stared out the window, dreaming of her youth -- when the days had passed unhurriedly and carefree with no newspapers to read, no television to distract her from her sense of innocent wonder at all the beautiful things around her. "Why must one lose one's innocence to become a woman?" she pondered wistfully.
Little did she know, but she had less than 10 seconds to live. Thousands of miles above the city, the Au'udrian mothership launched the first of its lithium fusion missiles. The dim-witted wimpy peaceniks who pushed the Unilateral Aerospace Disarmament Treaty through Congress had left Earth a defenseless target for the hostile alien empires who were determined to destroy the human race. Within two hours after the passage of the treaty the Anu'udrian ships were on course for Earth, carrying enough firepower to pulverize the entire planet. With no one to stop them, they swiftly initiated their diabolical plan. The lithium fusion missile entered the atmosphere unimpeded. The President, in his top-secret mobile submarine headquarters on the ocean floor off the coast of Guam, felt the inconceivably massive explosion which vaporized Laurie and 85 million other Americans. The President slammed his fist on the conference table. "We can't allow this! I'm going to veto that treaty! Let's blow'em out of the sky!"
This is absurd. I refuse to continue this mockery of literature. My writing partner is a violent, chauvinistic, semi-literate adolescent.
Yeah? Well, you're a self-centered tedious neurotic whose attempts at writing are the literary equivalent of Valium.
Asshole.
Bitch.
In-class Assignment for Wednesday:
Today we will experiment with a new form called the tandem story. The process is simple. Each person will pair off with the person sitting to his other immediate right. One of you will then write the first paragraph of a short story. The partner will read the first paragraph and then add another paragraph to the story. The first person will then add a third paragraph, and so on back and forth. Remember to re-read what has been written each time in order to keep the story coherent. The story is over when both agree a conclusion has been reached. The following was actually turned in by two of my English students, Rebecca [last name deleted] and Gary [last name deleted.] "
At first, Laurie couldn't decide which kind of tea she wanted. The chamomile, which used to be her favorite for lazy evenings at home, now reminded her too much of Carl, who once said, in happier times, that he liked chamomile. But she felt she must now, at all costs, keep her mind off Carl. His possessiveness was suffocating, and if she thought about him too much her asthma started acting up again. So chamomile was out of the question.
Meanwhile, Advance Sergeant Carl Harris, leader of the attack squadron now in orbit over Skylon 4, had more important things to think about than the neuroses of an air-headed asthmatic bimbo named Laurie with whom he had spent one sweaty night over a year ago. "A.S. Harris to Geostation 17," he said into his transgalactic communicator. "Polar orbit established. No sign of resistance so far..." But before he could sign off, a bluish particle beam flashed out of nowhere and blasted a hole through his ship's cargo bay. The jolt from the direct hit sent him flying out of his seat and across the cockpit.
He bumped his head and died almost immediately, but not before he felt one last pang of regret for psychically brutalizing the one woman who had ever had feelings for him. Soon afterwards, Earth stopped its pointless hostilities towards the peaceful farmers of Skylon 4. "Congress Passes Law Permanently Abolishing War and Space Travel," Laurie read in her newspaper one morning. The news simultaneously excited her and bored her. She stared out the window, dreaming of her youth -- when the days had passed unhurriedly and carefree with no newspapers to read, no television to distract her from her sense of innocent wonder at all the beautiful things around her. "Why must one lose one's innocence to become a woman?" she pondered wistfully.
Little did she know, but she had less than 10 seconds to live. Thousands of miles above the city, the Au'udrian mothership launched the first of its lithium fusion missiles. The dim-witted wimpy peaceniks who pushed the Unilateral Aerospace Disarmament Treaty through Congress had left Earth a defenseless target for the hostile alien empires who were determined to destroy the human race. Within two hours after the passage of the treaty the Anu'udrian ships were on course for Earth, carrying enough firepower to pulverize the entire planet. With no one to stop them, they swiftly initiated their diabolical plan. The lithium fusion missile entered the atmosphere unimpeded. The President, in his top-secret mobile submarine headquarters on the ocean floor off the coast of Guam, felt the inconceivably massive explosion which vaporized Laurie and 85 million other Americans. The President slammed his fist on the conference table. "We can't allow this! I'm going to veto that treaty! Let's blow'em out of the sky!"
This is absurd. I refuse to continue this mockery of literature. My writing partner is a violent, chauvinistic, semi-literate adolescent.
Yeah? Well, you're a self-centered tedious neurotic whose attempts at writing are the literary equivalent of Valium.
Asshole.
Bitch.
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter from southwest IL! Jess, Craig, Dad & I went to church this morning - 8:30 service. It was great! I really enjoyed going - unfortunately it had been a while.
On our way out from church we ran into Martha & Patrick with little Owen. It was my first time seeing him - what a cutie!! I can't believe he is 6 months old already!
Once we got home, I started in on dinner. We are having ham, homemade macaroni & cheese, sweet potato and apple casserole, coleslaw and squash with onion and tomato. For dessert we are having angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream. There will be 8+ for dinner so I am certain there will be leftovers. Not a problem for me! Leftovers means I don't have to cook for a couple of nights!!
Hope all is well with you. Any Easter decorations? Maybe something like they did at Christmas in the DFAC??
If you can, give us a call on the home phone so we can all talk to you!
Love you lots & KYHD!!
the Mom
On our way out from church we ran into Martha & Patrick with little Owen. It was my first time seeing him - what a cutie!! I can't believe he is 6 months old already!
Once we got home, I started in on dinner. We are having ham, homemade macaroni & cheese, sweet potato and apple casserole, coleslaw and squash with onion and tomato. For dessert we are having angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream. There will be 8+ for dinner so I am certain there will be leftovers. Not a problem for me! Leftovers means I don't have to cook for a couple of nights!!
Hope all is well with you. Any Easter decorations? Maybe something like they did at Christmas in the DFAC??
If you can, give us a call on the home phone so we can all talk to you!
Love you lots & KYHD!!
the Mom
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Easter Sunday
DA - If the call center is open, how about calling us Sunday evening after 1900 hrs our time?? I know that is kind of late for you, but we will all be here for Easter dinner. J&B will be in St Louis for the afternoon, but are planning on arriving here about 1900.
It will be GREAT when you get internet in your CHU. Let us know ASAP when that happens.
Congratulations on passing your PT test. Good news is always welcome!!
All the work we had done on the house is almost complete. Just some odds and ends to finish up. The only "big" thing left is a light for the new deck. I decided that it would be good to be able to see when I am grilling out and since I grill all year a light would be nice in the fall and winter when it gets dark earlier.
Guess that's about it for now....it was good to hear from you!!
Love you lots...KYHD
the Mom
It will be GREAT when you get internet in your CHU. Let us know ASAP when that happens.
Congratulations on passing your PT test. Good news is always welcome!!
All the work we had done on the house is almost complete. Just some odds and ends to finish up. The only "big" thing left is a light for the new deck. I decided that it would be good to be able to see when I am grilling out and since I grill all year a light would be nice in the fall and winter when it gets dark earlier.
Guess that's about it for now....it was good to hear from you!!
Love you lots...KYHD
the Mom
PT Test and Lifestyle
Hey everyone. I have some great news today
For one, River City has been officially lifted (though they have yet to re-open the Call Center. Two, I passed my PT test this morning with flying colors (61 Pushups, 62, 14:25 2-mile). I also have been smoke-free for 72 hours. And finally. I am just waiting to hear back from my retention counselor that I have been accepted to PCS to Ft Carson in April of 09. Oh, and I kind of qualified expert on my M249 Squad Automatic Weapon today. So, as you can see I've had a pretty busy and productive day today. I wish I could call with this info, but I guess this works just as well!
I got your Easter Package today, Shennie, though I do not know when I will enjoy it since I am trying to slim down and bulk up at the same time. (Right now I am 72.5" tall, and 176lbs. and at 26 yrs old, that puts me at a mere 6% body fat(with a 30 waist and 16" neck). But my workout is going well still and I hope people will notice when I see you guys again! Well time is about up here so better finish this off and finish deleting the 600+ emails left in my inbox!!!
For one, River City has been officially lifted (though they have yet to re-open the Call Center. Two, I passed my PT test this morning with flying colors (61 Pushups, 62, 14:25 2-mile). I also have been smoke-free for 72 hours. And finally. I am just waiting to hear back from my retention counselor that I have been accepted to PCS to Ft Carson in April of 09. Oh, and I kind of qualified expert on my M249 Squad Automatic Weapon today. So, as you can see I've had a pretty busy and productive day today. I wish I could call with this info, but I guess this works just as well!
I got your Easter Package today, Shennie, though I do not know when I will enjoy it since I am trying to slim down and bulk up at the same time. (Right now I am 72.5" tall, and 176lbs. and at 26 yrs old, that puts me at a mere 6% body fat(with a 30 waist and 16" neck). But my workout is going well still and I hope people will notice when I see you guys again! Well time is about up here so better finish this off and finish deleting the 600+ emails left in my inbox!!!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Happy Anniversary!
Today is the second anniversary of the kidney transplant! It's hard to believe that it's been two years. I'm still in great condition and so is Aunt Sher, so it must have been a good decision, huh?
Glad to hear that you're doing well. I am SUPER happy that you are quitting smoking!! That's AWESOME!!!!!!! Good luck on your PT test. It would be fun to come and visit you guys out in Colorado. I loved Colorado when I went there 10 years ago to visit Matt and his family.
Keep up all the good work that you and your fellow soldiers are doing! Love you and KYHD!
Glad to hear that you're doing well. I am SUPER happy that you are quitting smoking!! That's AWESOME!!!!!!! Good luck on your PT test. It would be fun to come and visit you guys out in Colorado. I loved Colorado when I went there 10 years ago to visit Matt and his family.
Keep up all the good work that you and your fellow soldiers are doing! Love you and KYHD!
My PT Test
Hey Dave, I, too, am training for a PT test.
Actually, I'm training for a 5K. I started last week by running 2 miles on Wed, 2 miles on Friday, and 4 miles on Sunday (2 miles in the morning and 2 in the afternoon). I trained yesterday and did another 1.5 miles.
I'm following a program called "couch to 5k" and in 9 weeks, I should be able to run 5k in 30 minutes.
We'll see!
It's great hearing from you via the blog! Keep up the good work! A friend of mine emailed me the other day asking how you were! We're all thinking about ya!
Love ya!
Package on the way!!
DA - I got a package mailed out to you today (Thursday), but I forgot to put the movie in it!! SORRY. However, Chelsey says that she has to send a box out to you...something about some boots.....I will give the movie to her to include in her box.
Well - the american justice system is alove and well in southwest IL. I completed my jury duty yesterday. Without going into detail - let's just say that it was no Perry Mason courtroom!! It was a serious trial and I do believe that justice was served. I hope that it is a while before I have to do it again. This one was not fun.
BTW - we got a new recliner/loveseat for the family room. We will still keep the individual recliners here, but the dad and I still enjoy sitting next to one another (even after 33 years of marriage and 4 kids!) to watch TV so we went out and bought a dual recliner. I also got some new valances for the living room, but I have to wait for my decorator's (Jessica's) OK to put them up!!
It was good to see your post. Keep up the good work in giving up smoking and training for your PT test! I know you can do it. Colorado Springs is beautiful....though a little farther away than Ft Campbell! We have lots of friends out there so be prepared for us to visit frequently!!
Love you lots...KYHD!
the Mom
P.S. Many thanks to you and all your buddies for a job well done and for servng your country!!
Well - the american justice system is alove and well in southwest IL. I completed my jury duty yesterday. Without going into detail - let's just say that it was no Perry Mason courtroom!! It was a serious trial and I do believe that justice was served. I hope that it is a while before I have to do it again. This one was not fun.
BTW - we got a new recliner/loveseat for the family room. We will still keep the individual recliners here, but the dad and I still enjoy sitting next to one another (even after 33 years of marriage and 4 kids!) to watch TV so we went out and bought a dual recliner. I also got some new valances for the living room, but I have to wait for my decorator's (Jessica's) OK to put them up!!
It was good to see your post. Keep up the good work in giving up smoking and training for your PT test! I know you can do it. Colorado Springs is beautiful....though a little farther away than Ft Campbell! We have lots of friends out there so be prepared for us to visit frequently!!
Love you lots...KYHD!
the Mom
P.S. Many thanks to you and all your buddies for a job well done and for servng your country!!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Alive
Hey everyone!
I guess it has been awhile since I last posted. But yes, I am still alive and still helping to catch the bad guys, one at a time. Things have been going good here. Things certainly have picked up, yet tapered off at the same time. Weird huh? Working out at the gym has had its ups and downs. I am in better shape than I ever have yet my run time suffered on my PT test.
I do have some good news though. The only thing stopping me at this point from getting Fort Carson, CO is my PT Test. Once I pass it entirely, I am eligible for re-enlistment for Carson! So I have been working hard on my run, and once I have been smoke-free for 2 weeks, I will retake the PT test, and get the damn thing over with!! Shennie, I have received your Valentines Day package, but havent received the Easter one yet. There was apparently a mail issue at the mail hub here in IRAQ, but it seems to have been worked out.
Anywho, its late and I am exhausted and have to get up in 8 hours for my 2-mile run. So I am outie but I will KMHD and try to be on more since I should be getting internet in my CHU soon...
~David
I guess it has been awhile since I last posted. But yes, I am still alive and still helping to catch the bad guys, one at a time. Things have been going good here. Things certainly have picked up, yet tapered off at the same time. Weird huh? Working out at the gym has had its ups and downs. I am in better shape than I ever have yet my run time suffered on my PT test.
I do have some good news though. The only thing stopping me at this point from getting Fort Carson, CO is my PT Test. Once I pass it entirely, I am eligible for re-enlistment for Carson! So I have been working hard on my run, and once I have been smoke-free for 2 weeks, I will retake the PT test, and get the damn thing over with!! Shennie, I have received your Valentines Day package, but havent received the Easter one yet. There was apparently a mail issue at the mail hub here in IRAQ, but it seems to have been worked out.
Anywho, its late and I am exhausted and have to get up in 8 hours for my 2-mile run. So I am outie but I will KMHD and try to be on more since I should be getting internet in my CHU soon...
~David
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Sunday Morning, Part II
I just got home from church - Palm Sunday, you know. After almost getting our eyes poked out by over-enthusiastic kiddies waving palms, it was decided to send them off to Sunday School. I wish the weather would pretend that it's Easter ~ it's been cold and raw here this week. Even tho' they say it's been in the 40s, it's been raw.
I went to a craft fair with a friend yesterday ~ bought a couple things. One was a heart - painted in red, white, and blue ~ and Army green ~ that says "Proud of Our Army". It's now hanging in my kitchen window! Later we were looking for a place to have lunch and found a new restaurant in a new shopping center. It's called Ted's Montana Grill. Now, you may have them out in the midwest, but this is the first one in our area. It's sorta along the lines of a Ruby Tuesdays, Applebees, etc. but they specialize in steaks and hamburgers. Their steaks and/or hamburgers are either made of beef or bison. Hmmmmmmmm. Carol and I decided to share a hamburger platter and we got their C.O.B. ~ cheddar, onion and beef (or bison); we opted for the bison. It's a little different ~ a little "zippier". Not bad though. Probably an acquired taste. I can't say it was bad, but a little more tangier than beef. The one nice feature about the restaurant is that it is "green" ~ "tablecloths" are oil cloth covered with brown wrapping paper; cloth (reusable) napkins; cardboard/biodegradable straws; everything is made fresh on the premises; they have no microwaves (OH _ BTW - Do you have a microwave in your trailer?); none of the food comes frozen. It was quite interesting. The decor is simple. ...and they had the best pickles!!!!! ...you know - the kind that almost taste like a cucumber - with just a little zip to them. Oh - and a huge bison's head hanging over the bar!
Then I went to the grocery store there and got butter because I had to make a double batch of shortbread last night to take to a reception at church this afternoon. Everyone at church likes my shortbread and it is so easy to make. Maybe I can get some made to send to you. Do you like it?
I agree with the mom ~ how 'bout doing some posting on the blog? I'd love to hear what you're up to. Good luck on quitting smoking. It took me a long time and it finally came down to being unconscious for the first 4 days ~ after that, the cravings diminish!
Dishes to do and time to clean out the stuff at the back of the fridge! Then, off to church to help with the reception; the choir is doing a requiem. YUK! Too much work for such ugly and depressing results. I'll knit downstairs.
Have you received either of my packages? ..Valentine's? ...Easter?
KYHD and love you ~
/Shennie
I went to a craft fair with a friend yesterday ~ bought a couple things. One was a heart - painted in red, white, and blue ~ and Army green ~ that says "Proud of Our Army". It's now hanging in my kitchen window! Later we were looking for a place to have lunch and found a new restaurant in a new shopping center. It's called Ted's Montana Grill. Now, you may have them out in the midwest, but this is the first one in our area. It's sorta along the lines of a Ruby Tuesdays, Applebees, etc. but they specialize in steaks and hamburgers. Their steaks and/or hamburgers are either made of beef or bison. Hmmmmmmmm. Carol and I decided to share a hamburger platter and we got their C.O.B. ~ cheddar, onion and beef (or bison); we opted for the bison. It's a little different ~ a little "zippier". Not bad though. Probably an acquired taste. I can't say it was bad, but a little more tangier than beef. The one nice feature about the restaurant is that it is "green" ~ "tablecloths" are oil cloth covered with brown wrapping paper; cloth (reusable) napkins; cardboard/biodegradable straws; everything is made fresh on the premises; they have no microwaves (OH _ BTW - Do you have a microwave in your trailer?); none of the food comes frozen. It was quite interesting. The decor is simple. ...and they had the best pickles!!!!! ...you know - the kind that almost taste like a cucumber - with just a little zip to them. Oh - and a huge bison's head hanging over the bar!
Then I went to the grocery store there and got butter because I had to make a double batch of shortbread last night to take to a reception at church this afternoon. Everyone at church likes my shortbread and it is so easy to make. Maybe I can get some made to send to you. Do you like it?
I agree with the mom ~ how 'bout doing some posting on the blog? I'd love to hear what you're up to. Good luck on quitting smoking. It took me a long time and it finally came down to being unconscious for the first 4 days ~ after that, the cravings diminish!
Dishes to do and time to clean out the stuff at the back of the fridge! Then, off to church to help with the reception; the choir is doing a requiem. YUK! Too much work for such ugly and depressing results. I'll knit downstairs.
Have you received either of my packages? ..Valentine's? ...Easter?
KYHD and love you ~
/Shennie
Good Morning
Well, it is Sunday morning and I am sitting here having coffee, reading the paper, and just taking it easy until I have to get ready for work.
DA - I just wanted to let you know I got the SG movie you requested. I will get a package out to you sometime this week. I have jury duty, so I am not sure what my schedule will be, but I WILL get it out to you. This could be interesting....Ben also got summoned for jury duty.I have done it in the past; actually got to sit on a jury. I think that all citizens should have to participate in the process once. But twice.......???
It was nice to talk with you on Friday. Hope you are feeling better...not quite as sore. Good luck with your next PT test & quitting smoking!!
Guess that's about it for now....
How about some news from you on the blog?? Maybe a picture or two??
Love you lots and KYHD!!
the Mom
DA - I just wanted to let you know I got the SG movie you requested. I will get a package out to you sometime this week. I have jury duty, so I am not sure what my schedule will be, but I WILL get it out to you. This could be interesting....Ben also got summoned for jury duty.I have done it in the past; actually got to sit on a jury. I think that all citizens should have to participate in the process once. But twice.......???
It was nice to talk with you on Friday. Hope you are feeling better...not quite as sore. Good luck with your next PT test & quitting smoking!!
Guess that's about it for now....
How about some news from you on the blog?? Maybe a picture or two??
Love you lots and KYHD!!
the Mom
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Lefty is Famous!
FYI: Lefty is famous. My donor story with Aunt Sher is being featured on Illinois' Donor Registry website. Go check it out: Donor Diary
Dave: Glad you're back safely! Sorry that it's been a while since I posted or sent anything, but I'll be better about it. I promise. KYHD and we love you!
Dave: Glad you're back safely! Sorry that it's been a while since I posted or sent anything, but I'll be better about it. I promise. KYHD and we love you!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Dinner's Ready!
It is 6:00 (1800 hours) and dinner is just about ready. The Shepherd's Pie is ready to go in the oven. The dressing is made for the coleslaw and the pan is ready for the crescent rolls. I'm having a glass of wine and waiting for all the guests to arrive. If they don't hurry, I may have to have another glass of wine!! Oh, the cake is baked and frosted: marble cake with rainbow chip frosting. Happy Birthday (a few days late),Chelsey. Wish DA could be here. We will be thinking of you, Bud.
Last night I watched a Extreme Makeover Home Edition. It was the one that first aired last Sunday just before Oprah's Big Give. Anyway, they built the dream house for a family from Virginia who's dad is in the Army National Guard and serving in Iraq. He is also a Civil War buff, so they also built him a special "home" for his Civil War memorabilia. The show was awesome! Needless to say I sat there with tears in my eyes the whole time! Luckily, I was home alone!!
Everyone just arrived! Talk to you later.
Love you & KYHD.
the Mom
Last night I watched a Extreme Makeover Home Edition. It was the one that first aired last Sunday just before Oprah's Big Give. Anyway, they built the dream house for a family from Virginia who's dad is in the Army National Guard and serving in Iraq. He is also a Civil War buff, so they also built him a special "home" for his Civil War memorabilia. The show was awesome! Needless to say I sat there with tears in my eyes the whole time! Luckily, I was home alone!!
Everyone just arrived! Talk to you later.
Love you & KYHD.
the Mom
Rain, rain, go away....
It is pouring here! We had rain overnight last night and then it tapered off this morning. When I left the house around 10:30 to run errands it wasn't doing anything ~ just cloudy. By 12:30 when I was going to Carol's house to pick her and Kathy up to go shopping it was starting to rain ~ not hard, but raining still. It had really started when I stopped to get gas. Then we started down 495 to go to the Wrentham Outlets and it was RAINING! By the time we got to the outlet it was pouring. A couple of times while we were in a store it POURED ~ you could hear it pounding it on the roof of the building. However, the place was still packed. The plaza is just that ~ a plaza ~ not an indoor mall so we did get a little wet going form building to building. But, at least I won't have to shovel this stuff tomorrow morning. I bought a few things - mostly stuff for the kitchen ~ but it was interesting. I had never been there though I passed it every time I went to see Grandma & Grandpa on the Cape. But I knew it was large and spread out and just couldn't bring myself to schlep around there ~ prior to my surgery. Even post surgery it was a chore. I'm going to have to go back a couple more times (at least) to get the full sense of the place. Donut would be in seventh heaven! We could drop her off on a Monday and go back on Friday and still get an argument from her about leaving.
On Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) they opened the stores at midnight to get a jump on things. I heard on the radio that they traffic was backed up onto route 495 at 3:00 a.m. waiting to get into this place that morning. Insanity!
Anyhoo, one of the errands I ran this morning was to deliver a package to the post office from the Easter Bunny! That should arrive about 10 days after the last one I sent.
Hope you're staying drier than we are.
Love you and KYHD!
On Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) they opened the stores at midnight to get a jump on things. I heard on the radio that they traffic was backed up onto route 495 at 3:00 a.m. waiting to get into this place that morning. Insanity!
Anyhoo, one of the errands I ran this morning was to deliver a package to the post office from the Easter Bunny! That should arrive about 10 days after the last one I sent.
Hope you're staying drier than we are.
Love you and KYHD!
Shennie
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Package
Just checking to see if the package arrived yet. Not a lot new here in New England - just a lot of rain and they're saying more for tomorrow night. I'll be doing laps in my cellar!
Talked to the Kitten last night - it was fun. She was shopping with the wife. When they got back to the mom's house I got to say hi to the mom and the donor. They were on their way to a concert.
Well, I'm off this afternoon - YEA. Except that part of the time I'll be at the doc's - just a yearly check up. How exciting. Next week I have to go to Lahey for a checkup with the kidney doc. I just know he's counting the hours until I arrive!
Hope all is well across the pond. More later.
KYHD!
Talked to the Kitten last night - it was fun. She was shopping with the wife. When they got back to the mom's house I got to say hi to the mom and the donor. They were on their way to a concert.
Well, I'm off this afternoon - YEA. Except that part of the time I'll be at the doc's - just a yearly check up. How exciting. Next week I have to go to Lahey for a checkup with the kidney doc. I just know he's counting the hours until I arrive!
Hope all is well across the pond. More later.
KYHD!
Shennie
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Winter is back!
Well - surprise, the weatherman got it wrong again! We were supposed to get 5-8 inches of snow between last night and tonight. Got up this morning and it was still sleeting - NO SNOW. Then they were saying the snow would start between 8 & 9 am........still NO SNOW! Radio DJ says, "snow is coming".......noontime - still NO SNOW. Finally, around 1pm it starts. YEAH!! I guess we probably got about 5 inches max here, but south county (St Louis) and St Louis city got about 10 inches. It is great snow for snowman building and throwing snowballs!! I would love this everyday....some people think I'm crazy, but nice, clean white snow looks alot better than brown grass, brown trees, dirty brown snow, etc. Right?? I think it is supposed to be cold until early next week when they are predicting temps in the 50's. Enjoy the snow and cold while you can- before you know it you'll be wishing for much cooler temperatures!!
Looks like we will be having Chelsey's birthday dinner this Sat. She has already put in her cake order. I am waiting for her dinner order. For those not familiar with our birthday dinners, each year each of our 4 children got to pick what they wanted for dinner on their birthday and what kind of cake/dessert they wanted. I would make this and we would have a family dinner and open birthday gifts after that. It is one of our family "customs" now and one that brings us all together at least 7 time a year now with 3 spouses added to our family! This way everybody gets their own special day with dinner, dessert and gifts. Until her death in 2005, their Grandma C would always call and sing Happy Birthday to them also.
Maybe DA can call Sat while we are all together so we can all say Hi!!
Until then, stay safe, thank your buddies for serving their country from all of us, and KYHD!!
Lots of love,
the Mom
Looks like we will be having Chelsey's birthday dinner this Sat. She has already put in her cake order. I am waiting for her dinner order. For those not familiar with our birthday dinners, each year each of our 4 children got to pick what they wanted for dinner on their birthday and what kind of cake/dessert they wanted. I would make this and we would have a family dinner and open birthday gifts after that. It is one of our family "customs" now and one that brings us all together at least 7 time a year now with 3 spouses added to our family! This way everybody gets their own special day with dinner, dessert and gifts. Until her death in 2005, their Grandma C would always call and sing Happy Birthday to them also.
Maybe DA can call Sat while we are all together so we can all say Hi!!
Until then, stay safe, thank your buddies for serving their country from all of us, and KYHD!!
Lots of love,
the Mom
Monday, March 3, 2008
Spring for a day!!
Well - if you were not in Illinois yesterday, you missed our Spring!! Today it is cold and wet and they are predicting 5-8 inches of snow sometime between tonight and noon tomorrow. This morning it was just wet, but as I was leaving the office (about 3:00 ~ 1500hrs) it was turning to sleet. Tonight it is supposed to change to snow - go figure.
Not only this, but then I learn that Daylight Savings Time starts this weekend! YUK!! It is still winter!!!!! It's not even Easter yet!! They'll probably be putting the Christmas decorations out in the stores again next week!! Time sure flys when the government gets involved!!
BTW, DA - I recharged your calling card today...no problem. Not sure what happened yesterday when I tried to do it.
Hope Chelsey had a safe trip to and back from Colorado. I am hoping to have her and the rest of the fam over sometime this week for her birthday dinner. Will have to co-ordinate with all now that everyone is back from their travels.
Guess that's about it for now.
Stay safe and KYHD!!
Love you lots,
the Mom
Not only this, but then I learn that Daylight Savings Time starts this weekend! YUK!! It is still winter!!!!! It's not even Easter yet!! They'll probably be putting the Christmas decorations out in the stores again next week!! Time sure flys when the government gets involved!!
BTW, DA - I recharged your calling card today...no problem. Not sure what happened yesterday when I tried to do it.
Hope Chelsey had a safe trip to and back from Colorado. I am hoping to have her and the rest of the fam over sometime this week for her birthday dinner. Will have to co-ordinate with all now that everyone is back from their travels.
Guess that's about it for now.
Stay safe and KYHD!!
Love you lots,
the Mom
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Is it spring??
Today it is absolutely beautiful here! The sun has been shining and the temperature is close to 80! I have all the sliding glass doors open and there is a nice breeze blowing through the house. I love days like this when they are not expected! I love opening up the house when it has been closed up for sooooo long. Yesterday was nice but only in the 50's. I'm sure this weather will be short lived. It seems to me that I heard something about the high tomorrow being in the low 40's with freezing rain possible.
Katie and I have been running errands and keeping track of Jet and Cooper. We stopped by to check on them both today. We had Coop outside for about half an hour and he was loving it! I was tempted to let Jet out, but didn't!!
I am also trying to get caught up on laundry! I still have not completely unpacked from the cruise. I guess I will work on that on Tuesday - my day off from my other job!!
Well - J, B, J, C, K, B & L (b's friend) are back from their cruise. I'm sure they had a great time and did not want to get off the ship! I'm trying to get another cruise planned, but the dad is not co-operating! As you know - I will cruise anywhere or better yet...NOWHERE!, but he is much pickier and wants to go some pace we have never been. I guess I'll have to look at different cruise lines - maybe they go places we have not been to already.
I guess that's about it for now. Laundry is calling!!
Hope you are well, DA. I will be adding minutes to your calling card tomorrow. I tried to add some yesterday, but was unsuccessful.
Love you. Stay safe and KYHD!!
the Mom
.
Katie and I have been running errands and keeping track of Jet and Cooper. We stopped by to check on them both today. We had Coop outside for about half an hour and he was loving it! I was tempted to let Jet out, but didn't!!
I am also trying to get caught up on laundry! I still have not completely unpacked from the cruise. I guess I will work on that on Tuesday - my day off from my other job!!
Well - J, B, J, C, K, B & L (b's friend) are back from their cruise. I'm sure they had a great time and did not want to get off the ship! I'm trying to get another cruise planned, but the dad is not co-operating! As you know - I will cruise anywhere or better yet...NOWHERE!, but he is much pickier and wants to go some pace we have never been. I guess I'll have to look at different cruise lines - maybe they go places we have not been to already.
I guess that's about it for now. Laundry is calling!!
Hope you are well, DA. I will be adding minutes to your calling card tomorrow. I tried to add some yesterday, but was unsuccessful.
Love you. Stay safe and KYHD!!
the Mom
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Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Package
Just a quick note before the phones start ringing and I get side tracked again today.
I stopped at the post office on my way to work yesterday morning after visiting my local vampire. There is another package on its way to you, DA. Think of it as a belated Valentine's Day treat. Any requests for the next one?
We got snow yesterday afternoon. HUGE, wet flakes. They didn't amount to much and it did rain a little afterwards, but the slush we had froze and even though the temp was 40 at my kitchen window this morning, the front stoop was a little slick. I salted it before I left, so hopefully it will melt and dry up before I get home tonight. I AM GETTING VERY TIRED OF THIS WEATHER. I want spring. One of the gals at the office brought in tulips yesterday - a definite harbinger of spring (or as they say here in Massachusetts, hahbingah of spring!)
Hope the gang is having a good time on their cruise. I talked to the mom the other night and she sounded tired. They were just relaxing.
How does it feel to be back with your unit?
Be well and KYHD. Watch for your new package.
Love you ~
I stopped at the post office on my way to work yesterday morning after visiting my local vampire. There is another package on its way to you, DA. Think of it as a belated Valentine's Day treat. Any requests for the next one?
We got snow yesterday afternoon. HUGE, wet flakes. They didn't amount to much and it did rain a little afterwards, but the slush we had froze and even though the temp was 40 at my kitchen window this morning, the front stoop was a little slick. I salted it before I left, so hopefully it will melt and dry up before I get home tonight. I AM GETTING VERY TIRED OF THIS WEATHER. I want spring. One of the gals at the office brought in tulips yesterday - a definite harbinger of spring (or as they say here in Massachusetts, hahbingah of spring!)
Hope the gang is having a good time on their cruise. I talked to the mom the other night and she sounded tired. They were just relaxing.
How does it feel to be back with your unit?
Be well and KYHD. Watch for your new package.
Love you ~
Shennie
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Lazy Sunday Afternoon
Actually, I should be diligent about getting stuff done around here, but I'm taking it slow. I did do up a HUGE sink full of dishes and also tried a new brownie recipe. I'll let you know in my next post how they turned out. They've got maraschino cherries in them along with some of the juice.
I also hate this time between football season and baseball season - or vice versa. There's nothing good to watch on TV on Sunday afternoons. UCONN played yesterday and they didn't even cover that up here. Even the grapefruit league is better than NASCAR or skateboarding! Spare me. And, how many times can you watch Tiger win with out yawning? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
The same Irish washer woman who stood up the mom also stood up the aunt, so I've got to go down and do a load. I also need to pick up a little - the cleaning woman is coming tomorrow. Maria is good, but I need to find some surfaces for her to clean!
I've also been pulling together the stuff to do my taxes - and grandpa's. I've started taking them to an accountant - life is way too short for me to figure them out.
Well, I shoveled 8" of snow from my front stoop and sidewalk yesterday morning. ENOUGH, ALREADY! Most of the snow was gone - just a couple of small mounds in parking lots and now it's everywhere again. It was a little slick on the stoop this morning. A lot of stuff melted yesterday but then froze overnight. They're saying more yuk Tuesday night into Wednesday. However, the storm may change to rain down here in southern New England - now that's a good thing.
Glad to hear that you're back safe and sound. I'll do my best to get to the post office this week to get a box off to you. I have a couple errands I need to do during my lunch hours, so I'll get there one day!
Be well and KYHD!
I also hate this time between football season and baseball season - or vice versa. There's nothing good to watch on TV on Sunday afternoons. UCONN played yesterday and they didn't even cover that up here. Even the grapefruit league is better than NASCAR or skateboarding! Spare me. And, how many times can you watch Tiger win with out yawning? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
The same Irish washer woman who stood up the mom also stood up the aunt, so I've got to go down and do a load. I also need to pick up a little - the cleaning woman is coming tomorrow. Maria is good, but I need to find some surfaces for her to clean!
I've also been pulling together the stuff to do my taxes - and grandpa's. I've started taking them to an accountant - life is way too short for me to figure them out.
Well, I shoveled 8" of snow from my front stoop and sidewalk yesterday morning. ENOUGH, ALREADY! Most of the snow was gone - just a couple of small mounds in parking lots and now it's everywhere again. It was a little slick on the stoop this morning. A lot of stuff melted yesterday but then froze overnight. They're saying more yuk Tuesday night into Wednesday. However, the storm may change to rain down here in southern New England - now that's a good thing.
Glad to hear that you're back safe and sound. I'll do my best to get to the post office this week to get a box off to you. I have a couple errands I need to do during my lunch hours, so I'll get there one day!
Be well and KYHD!
Glad you made it back safely!
DA - Good to hear from you safely back to Iraq and it was also good to talk with you Wed evening. You sounded tired, but then it was 0230 hours where you were calling from!!
Well - JJ, B, JS, C, B, & K made it safely to Ft Lauderdale yesterday. They flew out just in time. We woke up to 2-3 inches of snow this AM on top of the snow,sleet, & ice from Thursday and Friday! Have already heard from them that it is sunny and warm and a great day for sailing in FL!!
J&B's cat, Jet, has already hissed, meowed and rubbed up against my legs as if I were her best friend. All in the same day! She is soooooo messed up!! Matt has been taking care of Coop this weekend. On Tuesday he (Coop, not Matt!) gets to go to Doggie Day Camp!! Can you believe it?? He passed his "interview" with flying colors!! I guess he didn't pee on the interviewer's leg!!
Well - mounds of laundry await in the laundry room.....I guess the Irish washer woman couldn't make it out in this weather!
Love you and KYHD!!
the Mom
Well - JJ, B, JS, C, B, & K made it safely to Ft Lauderdale yesterday. They flew out just in time. We woke up to 2-3 inches of snow this AM on top of the snow,sleet, & ice from Thursday and Friday! Have already heard from them that it is sunny and warm and a great day for sailing in FL!!
J&B's cat, Jet, has already hissed, meowed and rubbed up against my legs as if I were her best friend. All in the same day! She is soooooo messed up!! Matt has been taking care of Coop this weekend. On Tuesday he (Coop, not Matt!) gets to go to Doggie Day Camp!! Can you believe it?? He passed his "interview" with flying colors!! I guess he didn't pee on the interviewer's leg!!
Well - mounds of laundry await in the laundry room.....I guess the Irish washer woman couldn't make it out in this weather!
Love you and KYHD!!
the Mom
Safe
Hey everyone, just wanted to assure everyone that I made it back to my FOB safely (not exactly in a timely matter, but it was nice spending a few days in Baghdad). I must say that compared to my FOB, my little visit to baghdad makes me wish I was stationed there! They definitely have it made for the luxury style living. They have virtually every convenience at their disposal (and they know it too!!) So maybe if and when I deploy next I can get one of the camps located in Baghdad.
Anywho, I am hunger and havent anything to really all day except some of the Peanut Butter Blossoms that Chelsey sent me (YUM!!)
Anywho, I am hunger and havent anything to really all day except some of the Peanut Butter Blossoms that Chelsey sent me (YUM!!)
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Safe Trip
Was surprised to see a Blog from you so soon. How long was your Layover in Germany? From Germany you go to where? No, I am not doing Typos; I found out from a Friend that in the German Language, all the Nouns are capitalized. Makes for some interesting typing. Back to normal...
It was great talking to you the other afternoon. I hope you made it to the Arch. How was the view once you got there? Better you than me. I get dizzy on a step stool.
You were right on Sunday - we had rain all day yesterday here in Massachusetts. Any more and I would have been able to do laps in my cellar. Speaking of cellar - I went down there Sunday to do a load of laundry after talking to you and on my way back to the stairs to come up, I spotted a dead mouse! EEEEKK! After fretting about it for a couple hours I decided that I was going to have to face dealing with it, so I mustered up my courage and grabbed the dustpan and brush. After I finished exchanging loads between the washer and dryer, I scooped the carcass into the dustpan and carried it to the bathroom window (it was the closest without a screen) and tossed it outside. As of yesterday it was still in the backyard; I was hoping some larger critter would find it a delectable midnight snack! Yet another reason I don't have a cat.
I'm back to work today - YUK! My next life I'm going to be born rich instead of beautiful. I did not want to come in this morning. It wasn't that I hated to get up (tho' that wasn't all that pleasant), but I just don't like work interrupting my life.
I hope the rest of your trip back to the base is safe and uneventful. Those are always the best kind. I'll try to get the care package I've been saving ready to be shipped by the weekend. It needs some rearranging and some padding. Think of it as a belated Valentine's Day present.
Vaya con Dios! KYHD!
It was great talking to you the other afternoon. I hope you made it to the Arch. How was the view once you got there? Better you than me. I get dizzy on a step stool.
You were right on Sunday - we had rain all day yesterday here in Massachusetts. Any more and I would have been able to do laps in my cellar. Speaking of cellar - I went down there Sunday to do a load of laundry after talking to you and on my way back to the stairs to come up, I spotted a dead mouse! EEEEKK! After fretting about it for a couple hours I decided that I was going to have to face dealing with it, so I mustered up my courage and grabbed the dustpan and brush. After I finished exchanging loads between the washer and dryer, I scooped the carcass into the dustpan and carried it to the bathroom window (it was the closest without a screen) and tossed it outside. As of yesterday it was still in the backyard; I was hoping some larger critter would find it a delectable midnight snack! Yet another reason I don't have a cat.
I'm back to work today - YUK! My next life I'm going to be born rich instead of beautiful. I did not want to come in this morning. It wasn't that I hated to get up (tho' that wasn't all that pleasant), but I just don't like work interrupting my life.
I hope the rest of your trip back to the base is safe and uneventful. Those are always the best kind. I'll try to get the care package I've been saving ready to be shipped by the weekend. It needs some rearranging and some padding. Think of it as a belated Valentine's Day present.
Vaya con Dios! KYHD!
Shennie
Germany
well who would have thunk that I would be back in germany on my way back to the sandbox huh? Oh and I am writing from a net cafe computer that has all kinds of weird keys so instead of a qwwerty keyboard, its a qwertzuiopü keyboard. lol. Some of the new kezs are and AltGr, a Strg key, the z and y key are reversedand its has öäµß€ keys...Weird huh?? anywho, I am going to get back to talking with Chelsey... Love zou guzs... (thats german for Love you guys... lol)
Monday, February 11, 2008
A Big Thank You
As most of you know, I recently returned from a 10-day cruise with the mom, the dad, and a friend. I had to fly to Miami to get on board the ship. A rather normal occurrence, wouldn't you say? Yes, except...
Several weeks ago, amongst all the emails that I have received, I opened and read one about gratitude to our soldiers. It shows folks in an airport making a very simple gesture to our uniformed friends that expresses our gratitude to them without creating a huge scene. It shows people placing their right hand over their heart and then pulling it away from their chest, palm up, until it is even with their waist. It is a simple, yet sincere, way of saying thank you. See http://www.gratitudecampaign.org
So, when I was in the Boston airport heading to my gate to catch a flight to Atlanta where I would change and fly on to Miami, I saw a fellow in complete desert camo getup heading my way. He was young and alone. I simply made the gratitude gesture with a smile. He nodded, smiled and went on his way.
It brought tears to my eyes. I silently wept tears as I walked to my departing gate. As it was, he was on my flight, yet we never made eye contact again. I am sure he was on his way to Ft. Stewart - where my nephew was stationed before being shipped to Iraq.
If I was able to make one soldier a little happier by a simple, quiet gesture, then it couldn't get any better. I just hope that someone will do the same thing for our soldier when he is alone in an airport.
Thank you, Scoots!
Several weeks ago, amongst all the emails that I have received, I opened and read one about gratitude to our soldiers. It shows folks in an airport making a very simple gesture to our uniformed friends that expresses our gratitude to them without creating a huge scene. It shows people placing their right hand over their heart and then pulling it away from their chest, palm up, until it is even with their waist. It is a simple, yet sincere, way of saying thank you. See http://www.gratitudecampaign.org
So, when I was in the Boston airport heading to my gate to catch a flight to Atlanta where I would change and fly on to Miami, I saw a fellow in complete desert camo getup heading my way. He was young and alone. I simply made the gratitude gesture with a smile. He nodded, smiled and went on his way.
It brought tears to my eyes. I silently wept tears as I walked to my departing gate. As it was, he was on my flight, yet we never made eye contact again. I am sure he was on his way to Ft. Stewart - where my nephew was stationed before being shipped to Iraq.
If I was able to make one soldier a little happier by a simple, quiet gesture, then it couldn't get any better. I just hope that someone will do the same thing for our soldier when he is alone in an airport.
Thank you, Scoots!
Shennie
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Tracking Progress
Hey, Scoots,
How 'bout tracking your progress coming home - sorta like watching Santa make his way around the world?
Where are you now? How are your flights?
We missed you on Sunday but know that you were thinking about us and Grandma as much as we were thinking about you and Grandma.
Hope you make it home before the mom and dad leave for Florida. Just 2 days, 20 hours, and 29 minutes until we sail! ...but who's counting? BTW - in case you didn't realize it, I'm going with them. Is the Caribbean ready for this? ...the Carew sisters loose together!
Safe travels.
Love,
How 'bout tracking your progress coming home - sorta like watching Santa make his way around the world?
Where are you now? How are your flights?
We missed you on Sunday but know that you were thinking about us and Grandma as much as we were thinking about you and Grandma.
Hope you make it home before the mom and dad leave for Florida. Just 2 days, 20 hours, and 29 minutes until we sail! ...but who's counting? BTW - in case you didn't realize it, I'm going with them. Is the Caribbean ready for this? ...the Carew sisters loose together!
Safe travels.
Love,
Shennie
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Good news
Dave,
Just wanted you to know that Ben and I are now officially trying to get pregnant, so hopefully you'll be an uncle around the time that you come home.
I haven't sent anything since before Christmas, so I guess I should do that.... sorry. I'll try and send something out before February.
Love ya! KYHD
Jennie
Just wanted you to know that Ben and I are now officially trying to get pregnant, so hopefully you'll be an uncle around the time that you come home.
I haven't sent anything since before Christmas, so I guess I should do that.... sorry. I'll try and send something out before February.
Love ya! KYHD
Jennie
Monday, January 21, 2008
Hey
Hey everyone, I know a few of you havent heard from me in awhile, but I am doing ok. Things are going good here (definitely had some interesting yet very vague things happen over the last couple weeks (vague meaning i know, but only a few were told so the rest cant know through here. lol)
I will say that I definitely miss getting mail on an almost daily basis. I still have yet to receive your package, Shennie. Hopefully it will get here soon. I know Chelsey mailed one out to me recently, and that Jennie & Ben might possibly have one as well.
This new workout schedule I am doing certainly is kicking my @$$, especially the biceps of death machine. But the hard work is starting to show through, slowly but surely.
Anywho I dont have much time but will try to be on more and eventually get my trip to iraq up through christmas posted.
I will say that I definitely miss getting mail on an almost daily basis. I still have yet to receive your package, Shennie. Hopefully it will get here soon. I know Chelsey mailed one out to me recently, and that Jennie & Ben might possibly have one as well.
This new workout schedule I am doing certainly is kicking my @$$, especially the biceps of death machine. But the hard work is starting to show through, slowly but surely.
Anywho I dont have much time but will try to be on more and eventually get my trip to iraq up through christmas posted.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Go teams!
Oh, who to root for today?
I'm going with New England and the Giants!
Hubs is finishing up getting ready and then we're hitting up the grocery store. This menu planning has worked out great for me. It's so nice to come home and not spend an hour deciding what we'll have for dinner and then realizing we don't have what we need to make whatever it was we decided on.
My house is getting and staying clean 15 minutes at a time. I set a timer and then walk around picking things up. When the timer goes off, thats it! I can't clean anymore. It's amazing what you can accomplish in 15 minutes! I reorganized the upstairs linen closet and started a load of laundry.
Usually Hubs does the laundry, but I was feeling generous today :)
After football, I'll be heading to the Home Depot and picking up paint. Rob is painting my parents kitchen, living room, dining room, entrance, and hallway tomorrow.
Then, when they head off for their cruise (in less than 2 weeks), I'll spend the week cleaning their house! And by clean, I mean really cleaning their house. They'll come home to new closets, a new storage room, and new living spaces :) I LOVE doing this stuff. And, I think my BFF, Martha, is going to help me too. She loves purging like I do.
David- haven't heard from you in a while. Hope things are going well. I still have a package sitting here that needs to get mailed. I'll try and get that out this week
Chelsey- haven't heard from you either. You're more than welcome to come over for dinner. Just pick a night that we're making something you'll like and let me know!
Time to root on the Patriots!
I'm going with New England and the Giants!
Hubs is finishing up getting ready and then we're hitting up the grocery store. This menu planning has worked out great for me. It's so nice to come home and not spend an hour deciding what we'll have for dinner and then realizing we don't have what we need to make whatever it was we decided on.
My house is getting and staying clean 15 minutes at a time. I set a timer and then walk around picking things up. When the timer goes off, thats it! I can't clean anymore. It's amazing what you can accomplish in 15 minutes! I reorganized the upstairs linen closet and started a load of laundry.
Usually Hubs does the laundry, but I was feeling generous today :)
After football, I'll be heading to the Home Depot and picking up paint. Rob is painting my parents kitchen, living room, dining room, entrance, and hallway tomorrow.
Then, when they head off for their cruise (in less than 2 weeks), I'll spend the week cleaning their house! And by clean, I mean really cleaning their house. They'll come home to new closets, a new storage room, and new living spaces :) I LOVE doing this stuff. And, I think my BFF, Martha, is going to help me too. She loves purging like I do.
David- haven't heard from you in a while. Hope things are going well. I still have a package sitting here that needs to get mailed. I'll try and get that out this week
Chelsey- haven't heard from you either. You're more than welcome to come over for dinner. Just pick a night that we're making something you'll like and let me know!
Time to root on the Patriots!
New England Patriots Fever, Part II
It's Sunday morning and I'm being lazy! I decided to pass on church this morning and, instead, did the Sunday crossword puzzle in the Boston Globe. Did pretty well. I've got a couple errands to run in a little while but will be back in time for the AFL playoff game between The New England Patriots and the San Diego Chargers. I'm glad I'm going to be watching it from the comfort of my warm house ~ they're predicting windchills of 0 degrees at Gillette Stadium this afternoon. There aren't enough gloves and socks and scarves and parkas for that temperature. Hopefully it will freeze the Chargers in their tracks. Even if it doesn't, we'll beat the pants off them. We'll be 18 and zero after today. DA - hope you folks get to watch the game - even if it is the middle of the night.
As far as the later game goes - I have no real preference. I guess maybe since Daddy was a Green Bay Packers fan I'd have to root for them. But, I'm getting a little sick of Brett Favre. Whatever, may the best team win!
I went to Ct. yesterday and we did our "Christmas". It was good to see Sheila and Dennis and Nick (oh, yeah, Keith was there too). Dennis looked good and said that he felt good. We went out for lunch and that was fun. You should've seen the sandwiches that Sheila and Nick had - chicken salad with walnuts and dried cranberries and chicken and other stuff. They were huge - they each took half home for supper last night. I was good and had baked Boston schrod (which is layman's terms means any white fish they happened to catch that day).
The new car did well on the highway and didn't use as much gas as the old one. But, HELLO, if I hadn't bought gas up here before I went to CT, I surely wouldn't have bought it down there. I would have pushed my car to the border before I paid those prices!
Well, time to get going. Breakfast is just about ready and them I'm off to run my errands. Scoots, hope all is well over there. You haven't posted lately - how 'bout a hello! Tell those buddies of yours that if they know what's good for them, they'll cheer for the Patriots! Extra rations if the Pats win today!
Love you and KYHD!
Shennie
As far as the later game goes - I have no real preference. I guess maybe since Daddy was a Green Bay Packers fan I'd have to root for them. But, I'm getting a little sick of Brett Favre. Whatever, may the best team win!
I went to Ct. yesterday and we did our "Christmas". It was good to see Sheila and Dennis and Nick (oh, yeah, Keith was there too). Dennis looked good and said that he felt good. We went out for lunch and that was fun. You should've seen the sandwiches that Sheila and Nick had - chicken salad with walnuts and dried cranberries and chicken and other stuff. They were huge - they each took half home for supper last night. I was good and had baked Boston schrod (which is layman's terms means any white fish they happened to catch that day).
The new car did well on the highway and didn't use as much gas as the old one. But, HELLO, if I hadn't bought gas up here before I went to CT, I surely wouldn't have bought it down there. I would have pushed my car to the border before I paid those prices!
Well, time to get going. Breakfast is just about ready and them I'm off to run my errands. Scoots, hope all is well over there. You haven't posted lately - how 'bout a hello! Tell those buddies of yours that if they know what's good for them, they'll cheer for the Patriots! Extra rations if the Pats win today!
Love you and KYHD!
Shennie
Monday, January 14, 2008
Maybe some snow would have helped!!
OK - so the Giants won. That's OK. They'll get their a**es kicked in Green Bay next weekend. Now mind you, I don't mind the Giants UNLESS they beat the Cowboys!! Sorry - but Eli is no match for Brett so GOOD LUCK!!
Well - 18 days and counting until we sail!! I can HARDLY wait. This trip is going to be awesome and well deserved AND I will be coming home to a new kitchen and house. Jessica is hiring a dumpster while we are gone! Will there be anything left to come home to?? If not we will just move in with her the the hubs!! How about that for motivation??
DA - everyone at the office says Hello and stay safe!!
Hope Chelsey had a good first day of classes today!
Gotta run and finish dinner!!
Love ya, the Mom
Well - 18 days and counting until we sail!! I can HARDLY wait. This trip is going to be awesome and well deserved AND I will be coming home to a new kitchen and house. Jessica is hiring a dumpster while we are gone! Will there be anything left to come home to?? If not we will just move in with her the the hubs!! How about that for motivation??
DA - everyone at the office says Hello and stay safe!!
Hope Chelsey had a good first day of classes today!
Gotta run and finish dinner!!
Love ya, the Mom
More Snow!
Well, they predicted 7 - 12 inches and we got about 7 or 8 here in Southboro. Fortunately, they closed the college so I didn't have to go in. It's a good thing because the guy that plows my driveway didn't get here until about 3 p.m. and did a half-a**ed job. The kid made one pass with the plow and called it good. He left a good 4 feet in front of the garage door unplowed and unshoveled and didn't do the path to the stoop or the stoop. He better get back here before 7:30 tomorrow morning! The owner of the company lives down the street from me and I know his mom - she sits behind me in church every Sunday. She's very nice and so is her son - just not the most ambitious. The kids that work for him aren't gonna set any records either, but... I can't shovel that's for sure. If this happens on or about 1/30 - I'll be calling him every 5 minutes!
It's a VERY heavy, wet snow. It's beautiful but is doing some major damage to trees and electrical lines. I probably shouldn't write anything/say anything, but so far we've had no problems.
I spent a good part of the day transferring files from my old desktop to this laptop. I'm giving Lisa my desktop for her apartment so that she can at least come into the 20th century. You'll probably hear her scream all the way over in Iraq, DA, I put a Red Sox wallpaper on the desktop today. (She is an AVID NYY fan!) Now I just have to unassemble it and get it into my car. I'm going to Ct on Sat - hopefully someone will take it out of the car when I get down there. I have presents to wrap before then, too. I think I have all the presents. Lisa's having a good time with one of hers - I adopted a harbor seal at the New England Aquarium in her name. She's named him (tho' we have no idea whether it's a boy or a girl) Bruce Hayden Winters. Nick didn't get top billing, but he's willing to live with this order. Bruce thinks it's great. Sheila and Dennis now have a grand-dog, a grand-cat, and a grand-seal. Do you think some day they'll get a granddaughter or grandson?
Well, I've done some dishes and some sorting of paperwork for my taxes and Grandpa's. I hate doing taxes. Every year I vow to be organized and have everything together before New Year's Eve; hopefully this year I'll be able to do it. You can tell Grandma didn't pass that accounting/ organizing gene on to me!
Well, QVC just delivered some summer clothes for my cruise - summer shorts with 8" of snow on my doorstep. What's wrong with that picture?
Did you get the package I sent last week? It's all munchies - no beef jerky or twizzlers. Let me know if you have a craving for anything else?
Hope all is ok over there? Did you get to see "W" while he was visiting?
Love you and KYHD!
Love,
Shennie
It's a VERY heavy, wet snow. It's beautiful but is doing some major damage to trees and electrical lines. I probably shouldn't write anything/say anything, but so far we've had no problems.
I spent a good part of the day transferring files from my old desktop to this laptop. I'm giving Lisa my desktop for her apartment so that she can at least come into the 20th century. You'll probably hear her scream all the way over in Iraq, DA, I put a Red Sox wallpaper on the desktop today. (She is an AVID NYY fan!) Now I just have to unassemble it and get it into my car. I'm going to Ct on Sat - hopefully someone will take it out of the car when I get down there. I have presents to wrap before then, too. I think I have all the presents. Lisa's having a good time with one of hers - I adopted a harbor seal at the New England Aquarium in her name. She's named him (tho' we have no idea whether it's a boy or a girl) Bruce Hayden Winters. Nick didn't get top billing, but he's willing to live with this order. Bruce thinks it's great. Sheila and Dennis now have a grand-dog, a grand-cat, and a grand-seal. Do you think some day they'll get a granddaughter or grandson?
Well, I've done some dishes and some sorting of paperwork for my taxes and Grandpa's. I hate doing taxes. Every year I vow to be organized and have everything together before New Year's Eve; hopefully this year I'll be able to do it. You can tell Grandma didn't pass that accounting/ organizing gene on to me!
Well, QVC just delivered some summer clothes for my cruise - summer shorts with 8" of snow on my doorstep. What's wrong with that picture?
Did you get the package I sent last week? It's all munchies - no beef jerky or twizzlers. Let me know if you have a craving for anything else?
Hope all is ok over there? Did you get to see "W" while he was visiting?
Love you and KYHD!
Love,
Shennie
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The Mom and the Dallas Cowboys
Like I always said, one more proof that she was adopted!
At least we agree on Jessica Simpson and the Redskins!
GO NY! ...and it's NOT VERY OFTEN that you'll hear or see me say THAT!
Shennie
At least we agree on Jessica Simpson and the Redskins!
GO NY! ...and it's NOT VERY OFTEN that you'll hear or see me say THAT!
Shennie
GO COWBOYS!!!!
Though raised in New England, I have ALWAYS been and will be a Dallas Cowboys fan!! So GO COWBOYS. This afternoon this raises a family issue - the dad is a NY Giants fan. Consequently, he will NOT be sitting next to me during the game as I tend to get very excited and scream and hit when the COWBOYS do well - which is usually every play!! BTW - Tony Romo can do much better than Jessica Simpson!! I hope the dumb blonde gets lost on her way to Texas Stadium!!
DA - Do you guys get to see any games over there?? I sure hope so!!
Love ya - enjoy the goodies heading your way!!
the Mom
DA - Do you guys get to see any games over there?? I sure hope so!!
Love ya - enjoy the goodies heading your way!!
the Mom
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Spice Rack
Ok, I think many people have pointed out the fact that the Mom's pantry needed to be cleaned out because there were things in there that had been there as long as they'd been in the house. So she did, and it's wonderfully organized now. But since I seem to be on a roll with weird things, I had to tell everyone that when we were searching through the cabinets for vanilla extract last night we found an albeutural inhaler, prescribed to the Mom (she doesn't know why) from, brace yourselves, 1995. Time to clean out the cupboards too, methinks. Ok, well I thought that was amusing.
I Remembered!
Hooray ~ I remembered to go to the post office this morning and mail your package before I came to work. Unfortunately, they had a temp at the counter and she wasn't as nice about sending stuff overseas to the military as the other guy ~ he usually charges me about 1/2 price because it's going to a soldier. Oh well - you're worth the $8.95! Even tho' the customs forms says clothes and games it's really food - but I don't like to put that on the form.
Actually I made 2 stops on my way to work this morning. I wrote myself a BIG NOTE last night so that I'd remember to mail your package and to go to the Town Hall and fill out my absentee ballot for Tsunami Tuesday. I figure, if you don't vote then don't complain ~ and I want to be able to complain. (I know that's a huge surprise to everyone and completely out of character for me, but just in case.) So after filling out several different forms and signing my life away, I did cast my ballot in the February 5th presidential primary in Massachusetts. I'm not saying for whom ~ just that the doc wouldn't be happy!
So, DA, what are you up to? How's the weather?
Back to work - be well and KYHD!
Love,
Shennie
Actually I made 2 stops on my way to work this morning. I wrote myself a BIG NOTE last night so that I'd remember to mail your package and to go to the Town Hall and fill out my absentee ballot for Tsunami Tuesday. I figure, if you don't vote then don't complain ~ and I want to be able to complain. (I know that's a huge surprise to everyone and completely out of character for me, but just in case.) So after filling out several different forms and signing my life away, I did cast my ballot in the February 5th presidential primary in Massachusetts. I'm not saying for whom ~ just that the doc wouldn't be happy!
So, DA, what are you up to? How's the weather?
Back to work - be well and KYHD!
Love,
Shennie
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
January 8, 1950
I would like to thank everyone for ordering such a great day for my birthday. The weather was beautiful. It got up to almost 60 here in Massachusetts. I even left a couple windows here at the house open when I left for work so that I could get some good fresh air into this place.
I just got a phone call from my best friend in high school. It was SO good to talk to Sally. Isn't it amazing? We haven't seen each other in years, yet we chatted like we had just had lunch together the other day. I have known Sally for 45 years - but neither of us is that old. We had a bet a couple years ago when the New England Patriots played the Philadelphia Eagles for the Super Bowl ~ guess who won!!!!!!!! She still owed me a buck!
I also got a call from my dear friends Phil and Elaine and then my niece, my donor, my god-daughter. Again, we can chat for hours. I so wish we lived closer.
I got email cards from Sunshine, Susie, Puff, and Ellen. I got phone calls from Kathy, Elaine, Lisa, Nick, and Susie - tho' Susie's call was to tell me that they have the cabin adjoining mine for the cruise. Good ~ they get free appetizers and a butler to serve them. I can deal with that! Better out of their budget than mine!
Hope all is well overseas, Scoots. I do have a package for you that I keep forgetting to mail - it's in the back seat of my car and I remember it only when I get home and look at it. Hopefully I can remember it tomorrow and take it to the post office.
Hope all is well where you are. Do you need warm items? Hats? Scarves? Mittens? whatever? I'm on a knitting frenzy. Did Chelsey tell you about her shawl?
Time to make supper. I'm treating myself to steak and salad for my dinner tonight. Medium rare ~ thank you.
Love you lots ~ KYHD!
Shennie
I just got a phone call from my best friend in high school. It was SO good to talk to Sally. Isn't it amazing? We haven't seen each other in years, yet we chatted like we had just had lunch together the other day. I have known Sally for 45 years - but neither of us is that old. We had a bet a couple years ago when the New England Patriots played the Philadelphia Eagles for the Super Bowl ~ guess who won!!!!!!!! She still owed me a buck!
I also got a call from my dear friends Phil and Elaine and then my niece, my donor, my god-daughter. Again, we can chat for hours. I so wish we lived closer.
I got email cards from Sunshine, Susie, Puff, and Ellen. I got phone calls from Kathy, Elaine, Lisa, Nick, and Susie - tho' Susie's call was to tell me that they have the cabin adjoining mine for the cruise. Good ~ they get free appetizers and a butler to serve them. I can deal with that! Better out of their budget than mine!
Hope all is well overseas, Scoots. I do have a package for you that I keep forgetting to mail - it's in the back seat of my car and I remember it only when I get home and look at it. Hopefully I can remember it tomorrow and take it to the post office.
Hope all is well where you are. Do you need warm items? Hats? Scarves? Mittens? whatever? I'm on a knitting frenzy. Did Chelsey tell you about her shawl?
Time to make supper. I'm treating myself to steak and salad for my dinner tonight. Medium rare ~ thank you.
Love you lots ~ KYHD!
Shennie
Sunday, January 6, 2008
C Squared
Well I haven't written anything in a while. Everyone else usually covers anything I could contribute, and nothing else interesting is going on. Tonight was different, however. My friend Caroline and I went to see Enchanted, which was hysterical, and afterwards we went to Coldstone, because it was about 70 here today (yes, I'm rubbing it in all you out-of-townies) and we wanted ice cream to celebrate. We were sitting outside eating when we looked across the parking lot and saw a car with, "Your sexy," written on the back. Caroline and I both being nerds, we had to fix this obvious grammatical error. I hope they appreciate it.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Noise,noise, and more noise!!
The roofers are here and have been since 0730! I never knew people on the roof could be sooooo noisy! They could take a lesson from Santa!!
BTW, DA - we are having a new roof and siding put on the house. Also, a sliding glass door from the eating area in the kitchen to new deck on the east side of the house behind the garage. See what happens when you go away for a while!! We had been thinking about it for a while and decided that now was the time to do it. We are not changing the color of the house so it probably will not look much different, but we will never have to paint again and the roof is a "35 year" roof so WE will never have to roof again. In 35 years I'll be 90 and if I am still living in this house it will be a miracle and some one else can pay for another roof!!
Last night J&B and J&C came over to help us move stuff around in the garage. Since there is a huge dunpster in the driveway we really had to keep an eye on Jessica - she was in a "pitching" mood....when you weren't watching she "pitched" your stuff into to dumpster!! They also took stuff that was theirs anyway. We had to move things so they can remove the door on the side of the garage that we NEVER use when they put the siding on.
Dad and I are hoping that come spring we will be able to put both cars in the garage! Wouldn't that be novel - actually using the garage as a garage instead of a storage room!
Not much else going on. Dad, Shennie, Jenny W, and I leave on our cruise in 27 days!! Can hardly wait! I'm not sure I remember how to act on vacation!
Love you lots and KYHD!!
the Mom
BTW, DA - we are having a new roof and siding put on the house. Also, a sliding glass door from the eating area in the kitchen to new deck on the east side of the house behind the garage. See what happens when you go away for a while!! We had been thinking about it for a while and decided that now was the time to do it. We are not changing the color of the house so it probably will not look much different, but we will never have to paint again and the roof is a "35 year" roof so WE will never have to roof again. In 35 years I'll be 90 and if I am still living in this house it will be a miracle and some one else can pay for another roof!!
Last night J&B and J&C came over to help us move stuff around in the garage. Since there is a huge dunpster in the driveway we really had to keep an eye on Jessica - she was in a "pitching" mood....when you weren't watching she "pitched" your stuff into to dumpster!! They also took stuff that was theirs anyway. We had to move things so they can remove the door on the side of the garage that we NEVER use when they put the siding on.
Dad and I are hoping that come spring we will be able to put both cars in the garage! Wouldn't that be novel - actually using the garage as a garage instead of a storage room!
Not much else going on. Dad, Shennie, Jenny W, and I leave on our cruise in 27 days!! Can hardly wait! I'm not sure I remember how to act on vacation!
Love you lots and KYHD!!
the Mom
Friday, January 4, 2008
New Laptop
Ok, I am really becoming the person I said I'd never be! They tried to deliver my new laptop to my house yesterday; but, it has to be signed for and I wasn't there. So, after calling DHL and then DELL (because Dell has to change the delivery address not me or DHL) and talking to two different towns in India, it was finally agreed that they would credit me $60 toward the purchase of my new laptop if I drove to DHL and picked it up. Guess what - it didn't cost me $60 to drive to Shrewsbury this morning, so I got another $60 off the price of my new laptop. Thanx to Ben and Dell and the computer gods, I got a grand total of $227 and change off my laptop. The guys here at the office were excited about my new toy so we got it all installed and ready. I even found out that my new ipod can be an external drive for the laptop. I am getting way too geeky for my own good. Look out DA and Ben! I'm just hoping that when I get it home it'll work just as well. The campus here is wireless, so it was easy. I'll let you know.
Hope everyone has a good weekend. Say a prayer for Dennis - he starts his chemo on Thursday. No radiation - I guess that's a good thing.
Happy weekend!
Hope everyone has a good weekend. Say a prayer for Dennis - he starts his chemo on Thursday. No radiation - I guess that's a good thing.
Happy weekend!
Shennie
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy 2008!
I guess it is official all over the world now! DA wished me Happy New Year yesterday because it WAS 2008 where he is! It was great to talk to him - he sounded good, though tired after working his shift. It had been a good shift with some excitement - I'll let him tell you all about it when he blogs!!!
Went to Jennie & Ben's last night for New Year's Eve chili, Kareoke (sp?), and some Wii bowling and other exciting happenings. Jessica is soooo cute when she drinks!! I was the designated driver so am probably the only one (other than Bob) who is feeling just fine this morning!!
Hope to get the tree down today and maybe go see Charlie Wilson's War. We saw National Treasure on Saturday - very good!! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys action/adventure movies.
We also got to visit with Craig's parents and sister last weekend. It was great to see them. It just doesn't seem possible that his sister will be graduating from college this spring! Starting to feel old yet, Craigster???
It is very cold and blustery here today. The wind is really kicking up the leaves that we never got picked up since the lawn tractor was not working properly! Maybe this cold north wind can blow them all down into the creek. That would be awesome!!
Well - for those who made New Year's resolutions - good luck! I gave up on that years ago!!
Count down to our cruise.....30 days to FL and 31 to cruising!!
Happy New Year!!
Love you and KYHD,
the Mom
Went to Jennie & Ben's last night for New Year's Eve chili, Kareoke (sp?), and some Wii bowling and other exciting happenings. Jessica is soooo cute when she drinks!! I was the designated driver so am probably the only one (other than Bob) who is feeling just fine this morning!!
Hope to get the tree down today and maybe go see Charlie Wilson's War. We saw National Treasure on Saturday - very good!! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys action/adventure movies.
We also got to visit with Craig's parents and sister last weekend. It was great to see them. It just doesn't seem possible that his sister will be graduating from college this spring! Starting to feel old yet, Craigster???
It is very cold and blustery here today. The wind is really kicking up the leaves that we never got picked up since the lawn tractor was not working properly! Maybe this cold north wind can blow them all down into the creek. That would be awesome!!
Well - for those who made New Year's resolutions - good luck! I gave up on that years ago!!
Count down to our cruise.....30 days to FL and 31 to cruising!!
Happy New Year!!
Love you and KYHD,
the Mom
Monday, December 31, 2007
HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2008!
 |
I know it's still early in the day here on the east coast, but we're getting out of work early today (hooray!) and I've got a bunch of stuff to do when I get home to get ready for dinner guests, so I'm sending this before I get busy and forget.
To each and everyone ~ may you all have a happy, healthy, safe, and very special 2008! You are all very special people. Scoots - KYHD and come back soon!
Love to all...
/Shennie
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Happy New Year!!
OK - so it is only 27 Dec, but DA's New Year will start before ours so.......
We had a great time with Shennie here for Christmas and I LOVE the picture. I have it at my work station right now, but I showed it to everyone at work first!! We really did miss you Christmas Day, but it was great to talk to you on the 24th and again yesterday. It sounds like you had a good day in spite of your geographical location. I'm sure the names of those weapons will mean something to the guys out there, but it is all greek to me! I know nothing about weapons, guns, ammo, etc....the Dad was in the military, I was just along for the fun of it! I am glad that you have one just in case....
Well - I'm keeping this short and I will apologize for typos, but Rascal is "helping"me type this!! He is laying on my lap with his head resting on my right arm making typing very interesting.
BTW - I am using my new laptop! Many thanks to Ben for getting it all set up for me last night! I LOVE IT! It is AWESOME!!
To Shennie - I guess these kids will get us into the 21st century inspite of ourselves!!
Love ya....KYHD!
the Mom
We had a great time with Shennie here for Christmas and I LOVE the picture. I have it at my work station right now, but I showed it to everyone at work first!! We really did miss you Christmas Day, but it was great to talk to you on the 24th and again yesterday. It sounds like you had a good day in spite of your geographical location. I'm sure the names of those weapons will mean something to the guys out there, but it is all greek to me! I know nothing about weapons, guns, ammo, etc....the Dad was in the military, I was just along for the fun of it! I am glad that you have one just in case....
Well - I'm keeping this short and I will apologize for typos, but Rascal is "helping"me type this!! He is laying on my lap with his head resting on my right arm making typing very interesting.
BTW - I am using my new laptop! Many thanks to Ben for getting it all set up for me last night! I LOVE IT! It is AWESOME!!
To Shennie - I guess these kids will get us into the 21st century inspite of ourselves!!
Love ya....KYHD!
the Mom
Happy Post Boxing Day!
Yesterday seems to have been a blur. I got up and packed. Kitten arrived at the house and she and JJ and I picked up the mom and we went to breakfast at the Cracker Barrel. Then we dropped Kitten off to get her car and go home and get some sleep and the mom and JJ took me to the airport to fly home. Remind me to not bring any liquids and/or gels with me the next time I fly - or to pack them in the checked luggage. Both flights I had my carry-on bag examined. Oh, the corkscrew stays home too! Even tho' it is legal to carry (because it doesn't have a blade - have you ever seen the end of the corkscrew?) they have to check it out. But, nothing was confiscated and I didn't have to wait to board - went right on. I managed to knit 1.5 hats on the flight home. We made good time and I was in my house by 5:50 est. I checked everything out, started unpacking and then went over to my friend's house for dinner with another friend. It was all leftovers from Christmas, but tasted great. I was home by 8:00 and in bed by a little after 9:00. I DID NOT WANT TO GET UP AND GO TO WORK TODAY! I kept thinking of JJ having this week and next off.
Christmas was so nice, but we missed you a lot, Scoots. Cooper and one of the cats got into a tussle; that was the noisiest part of the day. Poor Coop was an innocent bystander to the sneak attack of the cat.
You'll be pleased to know that the family gave me an ipod - I need you to help me figure it out. Donut explained it all in 10 minutes and I have proceeded to forget what she told me. Oh well, I'll get it set up when I get my new laptop that Ben helped me order the other night. So, among the new laptop, the ipod and docking station, my new digital camera, and the digital picture frame, I'm getting to be quite the geek. Now, if I only knew what I was doing!
I absolutely love the picture of you and Chelsey. I've got it here in my area at work and check it out. I've been showing it to everybody. When the mom and dad got to that gift Christmas morning, the dad was holding it and trying to figure out what it was. The MOM got impatient, grabbed it from the dad, figured out instantly what it was and tore it open after immediately bursting into tears. We all had a good cry, and life went on til I got to my present. I picked it up, saw who it was from, felt around to see if I could tell what it was then turned to the mom and said, "You're not so special!". We all cried again and love it.
Ok, so we can hold off on the beef jerky and the sweet candy - I'll scour the shelves when I'm at Wally World this weekend for some appropriate replacements. Do you need hats, scarves, whatever to keep warm? Did the socks fit that I sent?
Chinese food for lunch is arriving. Will write more over the weekend. I hope your holidays are the best that they can be. We missed you at the dinner tables, but will save you a spot.
Love you and KYHD!
Shennie
Christmas was so nice, but we missed you a lot, Scoots. Cooper and one of the cats got into a tussle; that was the noisiest part of the day. Poor Coop was an innocent bystander to the sneak attack of the cat.
You'll be pleased to know that the family gave me an ipod - I need you to help me figure it out. Donut explained it all in 10 minutes and I have proceeded to forget what she told me. Oh well, I'll get it set up when I get my new laptop that Ben helped me order the other night. So, among the new laptop, the ipod and docking station, my new digital camera, and the digital picture frame, I'm getting to be quite the geek. Now, if I only knew what I was doing!
I absolutely love the picture of you and Chelsey. I've got it here in my area at work and check it out. I've been showing it to everybody. When the mom and dad got to that gift Christmas morning, the dad was holding it and trying to figure out what it was. The MOM got impatient, grabbed it from the dad, figured out instantly what it was and tore it open after immediately bursting into tears. We all had a good cry, and life went on til I got to my present. I picked it up, saw who it was from, felt around to see if I could tell what it was then turned to the mom and said, "You're not so special!". We all cried again and love it.
Ok, so we can hold off on the beef jerky and the sweet candy - I'll scour the shelves when I'm at Wally World this weekend for some appropriate replacements. Do you need hats, scarves, whatever to keep warm? Did the socks fit that I sent?
Chinese food for lunch is arriving. Will write more over the weekend. I hope your holidays are the best that they can be. We missed you at the dinner tables, but will save you a spot.
Love you and KYHD!
Shennie
Hey Everyone
So christmas is over with, everyone is recovering from the food they enjoyed the excitement of christmas morning. For me, it was quite a nice christmas despite my location. For Christmas morning, I woke up at 0900 (midnight CST) to get ready to go to a Range. Now normally, I dread going to the range, but as most people know this was not a normal range. For aiding some Special Forces in some very, very successful raids in *********, Iraq, they wanted to repay with a special reward. So they invited the entire forward site crew to their compound located within the FOB to do some 'weapons familiarization." Once we got there and approached he table that was in front of the range, we saw the weapons in which we were to become familiar with: 2 customized fully-automatic AK-47s, 2 MP5s, an UMP .45, and the deadly Dragunov Sniper rifle (7.62mm round). Now mind you that the US uses 5.56mm rounds as they are known not to pierce through the targets and leave a nasty exit wound. The 7.62mm will do just that. And know that you can be 50 meters away. Or 1,000m. I can still hit ya!! lol.
Anywho, I am emailing ALL the pictures I have taken from Stewart the day I deployed up until christmas day to Chelsey so that hopefully she has better luck uploading them on here.
Anywho, I am emailing ALL the pictures I have taken from Stewart the day I deployed up until christmas day to Chelsey so that hopefully she has better luck uploading them on here.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Jesus Doesn't Like Cutters
In case you didn't already know, Jesus doesn't like cutters. I learned this on Sunday night when my family made the traditional annual trek to the Our Lady of the Snows Shrine. My mom, dad and aunt were in another car, and my hubby and my sister-in-law and I were in our car.
We approached the Shrine's entrance, patiently waiting in the line of cars. The line had to be at least a mile long, barely moving. We inched closer and closer to the entrance. Then, from the lane to our left, a car slowed down (having not patiently waited in line like the rest of us) and turned on its blinker to enter our lane. From the back seat I hear my sister-in-law Chelsey say, "Don't let him in or you'll go to hell; Jesus doesn't like cutters, you know."
So, the driver of the silver mini-van in front of us is going to hell. Merry Christmas!
We approached the Shrine's entrance, patiently waiting in the line of cars. The line had to be at least a mile long, barely moving. We inched closer and closer to the entrance. Then, from the lane to our left, a car slowed down (having not patiently waited in line like the rest of us) and turned on its blinker to enter our lane. From the back seat I hear my sister-in-law Chelsey say, "Don't let him in or you'll go to hell; Jesus doesn't like cutters, you know."
So, the driver of the silver mini-van in front of us is going to hell. Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas David Andrew!! A few days early!! Gald to hear that you have some decorations up and that you are settled in your "new" digs.
Today I got our Christmas cards done - I'll mail them later today. Now all I have to do is wrap EVERYTHING. I'm pretty much done shopping - just a few more things to get. I'll probably do that tomorrow morning before work or Monday since I have it off.
We sure will miss you this year, but know that you will be thought of (and talked about!) alot on Christmas Day. The plans at the moment are: Shennie flies in tomorrow and Jennie will pick her up at the airport. When Dad and I get off from work, we will all meet at the house and head over to the Shrine for our annual Christmas light display. From there we head to Cracker Barrel for dinner and then home for dessert. ( I guess I better make something!!). Christmas Eve we will be at Jessica & Craig's for dinner and Christmas Day dad has to work so we will open gifts when he gets home. Jennie and Ben will be going to Ben's sister's to spend time with his family during the day. I think they will be here for dinner (late) or perhaps just dessert. They will open gifts when they get here. I have invited Chelsey and her family for Christmas dinner so we may have a crowd - the more the merrier!!
Glad to hear that you are getting alot of hours in. I'm sure it helps the time go by. So you're working out??
Everyone from the office says hi, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Many of them ask about you frequently. With all the military folks we have that is not surprising. Keep the pictures coming and we will be sure to take lots on Christmas Eve and Christmas!
Love you lots and KYHD!
the Mom
Today I got our Christmas cards done - I'll mail them later today. Now all I have to do is wrap EVERYTHING. I'm pretty much done shopping - just a few more things to get. I'll probably do that tomorrow morning before work or Monday since I have it off.
We sure will miss you this year, but know that you will be thought of (and talked about!) alot on Christmas Day. The plans at the moment are: Shennie flies in tomorrow and Jennie will pick her up at the airport. When Dad and I get off from work, we will all meet at the house and head over to the Shrine for our annual Christmas light display. From there we head to Cracker Barrel for dinner and then home for dessert. ( I guess I better make something!!). Christmas Eve we will be at Jessica & Craig's for dinner and Christmas Day dad has to work so we will open gifts when he gets home. Jennie and Ben will be going to Ben's sister's to spend time with his family during the day. I think they will be here for dinner (late) or perhaps just dessert. They will open gifts when they get here. I have invited Chelsey and her family for Christmas dinner so we may have a crowd - the more the merrier!!
Glad to hear that you are getting alot of hours in. I'm sure it helps the time go by. So you're working out??
Everyone from the office says hi, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Many of them ask about you frequently. With all the military folks we have that is not surprising. Keep the pictures coming and we will be sure to take lots on Christmas Eve and Christmas!
Love you lots and KYHD!
the Mom
Season's Greetings
With Christmas right around the corner, thoughts of happiness will fill the air. To some, the feeling of sadness may sink in with my deployment. For this will be my first Christmas away from family and friends. But do not let my absence cloud your day. Remember that though I am not there with everyone, I will still be celebrating christmas here. I've already setup christmas lights around my room. And I pretty much have my room to a style that I will be comfortable with for some time. I have a nice 19" LCD TV/Monitor, my XBOX 360, my ROCKBAND equipment all setup in the back of the room while I enjoy my sleep wth the A/C (or heat for the time being) blow on me at night. Thats right, these past couple days have been getting frightenly chilly. Temperatures have actually dropped to around freezing. I think the high today was like 45, and yesterday it was 38 with a low of 31. Tomorrow the high is 59(whew, warm) with a low of 37 (not so warm...) (Yes, my room is definitely hooked up!)
Things are going well here in Iraq. So far I have managed to rack up almost 200hours of flight time, and almost 100 hours of Mission Commander times (thats right Jennie, I get to do mission commander stuff in my job too, except with a multi-million dollar military system...) Anywho, for stuff to send I think you can start cutting back on the Beef Jerky. *Its actually starting to bother my mouth.* And a drop in sugar candy wold be good (same reason). But otherwise I have definitely enjoyed the stuff sent so far.
Oh, and if people havent heard yet, I have been going to the gym for a little while now and have put on almost 10 lbs of muscle. I am benching more now then I ever did in the states. An everything else is definitely a step-up from even my Army PT at Stewart. Well, its about that time to go fly a mission (Time to put on my MC cap and get to work.)
Things are going well here in Iraq. So far I have managed to rack up almost 200hours of flight time, and almost 100 hours of Mission Commander times (thats right Jennie, I get to do mission commander stuff in my job too, except with a multi-million dollar military system...) Anywho, for stuff to send I think you can start cutting back on the Beef Jerky. *Its actually starting to bother my mouth.* And a drop in sugar candy wold be good (same reason). But otherwise I have definitely enjoyed the stuff sent so far.
Oh, and if people havent heard yet, I have been going to the gym for a little while now and have put on almost 10 lbs of muscle. I am benching more now then I ever did in the states. An everything else is definitely a step-up from even my Army PT at Stewart. Well, its about that time to go fly a mission (Time to put on my MC cap and get to work.)
Friday, December 21, 2007
Happy Anniversary...
...to the Mom and Dad!
Let's see - - - 33 years ago today the dad was slamming doors in his best man's face; the grandpa was forgetting to pick up his mother and had to race across town to get her; the mom was calmly sitting in the recliner drying her hair; shennie was being shadowed around the house by the dad's sister - even to the bathroom; the grandma was trying to get rid of her obnoxious sister who showed up early and uninvited with her alcoholic boyfriend; and the great-grandma was trying to make sense of everything that was going on. It was a fun day at 406.
But, despite the chaos and insanity, it turned out great. BTW - the biggest crier at the wedding - the dad's dad. Sobbed through the entire ceremony.
At least 33 more!
KYHD!
Let's see - - - 33 years ago today the dad was slamming doors in his best man's face; the grandpa was forgetting to pick up his mother and had to race across town to get her; the mom was calmly sitting in the recliner drying her hair; shennie was being shadowed around the house by the dad's sister - even to the bathroom; the grandma was trying to get rid of her obnoxious sister who showed up early and uninvited with her alcoholic boyfriend; and the great-grandma was trying to make sense of everything that was going on. It was a fun day at 406.
But, despite the chaos and insanity, it turned out great. BTW - the biggest crier at the wedding - the dad's dad. Sobbed through the entire ceremony.
At least 33 more!
KYHD!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
I'm Bored
Things here at the office are very quiet. We didn't even have any kids in today. I keep thinking of all the stuff I could be doing at home if I weren't sitting here trying to kill time until at least 4:00. On well. I did get my self pre-registered for the cruise. I'll bring all the stuff with me and Jennifer and I can sit down and scope things out and day dream until Feb. 1.
I went to the Post Office yesterday; Scoots, there's another box on its way to you. Don't know when it will arrive. Do you have a sense as to how long it takes for stuff to get from here to there? The post office here by the college is very helpful and considerate when I take stuff over to send to you. They rarely charge me full freight.
Donut, thank you for the complimentary comment on my last blog - we'll ignore your mother's addition! She has to stress that to everyone otherwise they think she's the oldest - they always have.
I put two boxes in the mail to you - they're headed for your office. I'll get them from you on Sunday (hopefully JJ will take me over to get them or you can drop them off at her house). Most of the stuff is wrapped, but some of it isn't. I'll take care of that stuff on Monday. I'll still have some finishing up of projects to do before Tuesday morning. I may put JJ to work helping me. It'll remind her never to work on projects that require a fringe!
They're saying we may get a little snow/rain tonight/tomorrow. I hope it's rain. It's also supposed to rain on Sunday, but that shouldn't prevent me from flying out. Hopefully it will get rid of all the ice and gunk on the streets and sidewalks.
Have a great day!
KYHD!
Love you,
/Lefty
I went to the Post Office yesterday; Scoots, there's another box on its way to you. Don't know when it will arrive. Do you have a sense as to how long it takes for stuff to get from here to there? The post office here by the college is very helpful and considerate when I take stuff over to send to you. They rarely charge me full freight.
Donut, thank you for the complimentary comment on my last blog - we'll ignore your mother's addition! She has to stress that to everyone otherwise they think she's the oldest - they always have.
I put two boxes in the mail to you - they're headed for your office. I'll get them from you on Sunday (hopefully JJ will take me over to get them or you can drop them off at her house). Most of the stuff is wrapped, but some of it isn't. I'll take care of that stuff on Monday. I'll still have some finishing up of projects to do before Tuesday morning. I may put JJ to work helping me. It'll remind her never to work on projects that require a fringe!
They're saying we may get a little snow/rain tonight/tomorrow. I hope it's rain. It's also supposed to rain on Sunday, but that shouldn't prevent me from flying out. Hopefully it will get rid of all the ice and gunk on the streets and sidewalks.
Have a great day!
KYHD!
Love you,
/Lefty
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Enough is Enough!
Before I get into the fact that we have had more snow this week than we did all last year and I'm tired of it already, I actually took some pictures of the snow on my new digital camera and downloaded ~ or uploaded , however you want to look at it ~ to my computer. I'll insert them so you can see. Aren't you proud of me! I did it ALL BY MYSELF!
The first picture is taken from my kitchen door looking at the firehouse across the street; the second picture is looking in the opposite direction. On Thursday we had 9" of snow on my front stoop; when I decided to feed the birds today and tried to go out my kitchen door, I had to shovel away 10" of snow.
It's been a busy day. I've got a box ready to send to you, Scoots, and I have another one that I'll ship at the same time to Donut at her office. I've still got stuff to finish before I head to Illinois, so this won't be long. I've baked today - 8 of Grandma's cherry cakes. I also plan to do a batch of her datenut bread. I'm going to need a day off to rest up from today. I was planning on taking a nap this afternoon, but that's not going to happen.
Back to the snow - It didn't start snowing until very early this morning, but it made up for it. We were only supposed to get 3" - 6" today. My yardstick is getting a workout. I knew the storm was coming in so I got as much done yesterday as I could. I didn't even plan on going to church, I just started in knitting and baking when I got up. To hear the media this morning you woulda thought we were living in Tampa and the storm was hitting there. This is New England, folks!
I like your pictures - especially the camel. When are you going to ride on one? Actually, it's good to see you post any message on the blog. Keep 'em coming - even if it's just to say hello!
Well, knitting and wrapping are calling. New England Patriots are beating the Jets - AGAIN! Maybe this will shut up the Jets. I don't want to get too cocky - I don't want to jinx the Pats. They're playing here in New England. It bet it is COLD at Gillette Stadium.
Well, Scoot, you can brag to your buddies that your technically-challenged aunt figured out digital camera transfer all by herself! To the rest of you - WATCH OUT! I ALMOST called Ben, but decided to be stubborn enough to do it by myself. And I won. HOORAY!
Be well, be smart and KYHD! Let us know if you or any of your friends need anything.
Love you,
Shennie
The first picture is taken from my kitchen door looking at the firehouse across the street; the second picture is looking in the opposite direction. On Thursday we had 9" of snow on my front stoop; when I decided to feed the birds today and tried to go out my kitchen door, I had to shovel away 10" of snow.
It's been a busy day. I've got a box ready to send to you, Scoots, and I have another one that I'll ship at the same time to Donut at her office. I've still got stuff to finish before I head to Illinois, so this won't be long. I've baked today - 8 of Grandma's cherry cakes. I also plan to do a batch of her datenut bread. I'm going to need a day off to rest up from today. I was planning on taking a nap this afternoon, but that's not going to happen.
Back to the snow - It didn't start snowing until very early this morning, but it made up for it. We were only supposed to get 3" - 6" today. My yardstick is getting a workout. I knew the storm was coming in so I got as much done yesterday as I could. I didn't even plan on going to church, I just started in knitting and baking when I got up. To hear the media this morning you woulda thought we were living in Tampa and the storm was hitting there. This is New England, folks!
I like your pictures - especially the camel. When are you going to ride on one? Actually, it's good to see you post any message on the blog. Keep 'em coming - even if it's just to say hello!
Well, knitting and wrapping are calling. New England Patriots are beating the Jets - AGAIN! Maybe this will shut up the Jets. I don't want to get too cocky - I don't want to jinx the Pats. They're playing here in New England. It bet it is COLD at Gillette Stadium.
Well, Scoot, you can brag to your buddies that your technically-challenged aunt figured out digital camera transfer all by herself! To the rest of you - WATCH OUT! I ALMOST called Ben, but decided to be stubborn enough to do it by myself. And I won. HOORAY!
Be well, be smart and KYHD! Let us know if you or any of your friends need anything.
Love you,
Shennie
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Let it snow!!
| We had about 4 inches last night most of which melted today, but it started snowing again a couple of hours ago and we have had another inch or so. It is really beautiful out!! Unfortunately, it will be gone by Christmas because it is supposed to get up to 57 degrees on Thursday....oh well, it was nice while it lasted. DA - I love the pictures you posted. I have only seen camels in zoos or at the Shrine at Christmas as we drive through the display of lights. I think we will be doing that Sunday night after Shennie arrives. The dad and I work next weekend, but we will head out after work on Sunday and make our annual trek through the Shrine and then out to dinner. Hopefully I will be done shopping by then!! I plan to finish up this Tuesday. That is my regular day off now. Everyone at the office says HI and take care. One of our MA's is in the AF Reserves and her unit is heading to Afghanistan after the first of the year. She will be gone for 4 months. She said farewell to everyone yesterday and I thanked her for her service. I thnk she was really touched that someone said "thank you". Chelsey was over a couple of nights this week. She seems to be well. She and Katie have spent some time together. They seem to get along well. I guess Katie has been working lots of hours. She mentioned the other day the she is planning on taking some courses this summer. Perhaps @ SWIC. I think she wants to go into the medical field - perhaps become an MA. We'll see how that works out. I put more minutes on your calling card this week. Have you ordered/gotten your TV yet? How is the "chu" working out?? Let us know if you or anyone needs anything, OK?? Not much more to say right now. Love you and KYHD. the Mom |
Friday, December 14, 2007
Behind the Deployment : True Hollywood Story
Chelsey and I on Deployment Date
Almost there
Seeing my first camel
Arriving in Kuwait
Feel Safe yet??
Some guys playing Guitar Hero 2
Ali Asaleen, Kuwait
Relaxing Before Flying to Iraq
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Anniversary
Today was Ben and my anniversary. It's been four years since I walked the aisle. Can't believe it's been four years! It sure has passed quickly.
Ben beat me to the punch this morning, wishing me a happy anniversary as I was getting ready to leave for work (he's usually asleep at that time, so I wasn't going to wake him up to wish him a happy anniversary, I wanted to let him sleep). Then, I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers (and some chocolates) at work! It was SO sweet! All the gals at work were jealous... it probably didn't help that I told them all that I have the best husband. I know, they're just jealous!
Nice to see the pictures of you, David! The sunset picture is really pretty. Can't wait to see more pictures. Take Care and KYHD.
Ben beat me to the punch this morning, wishing me a happy anniversary as I was getting ready to leave for work (he's usually asleep at that time, so I wasn't going to wake him up to wish him a happy anniversary, I wanted to let him sleep). Then, I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers (and some chocolates) at work! It was SO sweet! All the gals at work were jealous... it probably didn't help that I told them all that I have the best husband. I know, they're just jealous!
Nice to see the pictures of you, David! The sunset picture is really pretty. Can't wait to see more pictures. Take Care and KYHD.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Up till Now...
So I know I have been promising pictures of Kuwait and Iraq, etc. and people know that the internet isnt exactly like home, but hopefully these pics will help spelling out the story I have been through so far...
Getting Ready to Leave Kuwait
My last day in Kuwait
More to come!
Me in the cockpit of the 767
Getting Ready to Leave Kuwait
My last day in KuwaitMore to come!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Shennie and Sports
Ok, we know that's an oxymoronic statement - unless of course we're talking watching sports. Although, I did fence in high school - and even lettered in it! You can all stop laughing now - and you can google what fencing is!
Anyway, Chase Collegiate aka St. Margaret's School has a penpal program where they match up an alumna with a current student in the Middle School. My penpal is Sammie and we were penpals when she was in third grade and now we're penpals again while she's in 5th grade. This is part of the letter I got from her yesterday - I laughed for 5 minutes!
"So any thing new happening? I have been playing tennis with my friend Jenny. She goes to Chase Collegiate School with me. I play at the Middlebury Racket Club. After school I go with Jenny to her house and her mom drives us to tennis. I think tennis is really fun. Do you play any sports even though you are an adult?"
I'll wait while you all compose yourselves.
Well, can't talk much here. I've got squash practice to go to except that it's snowing and my tennis racket needs restringing! Alas, I am relegated to sitting and knitting. How shall I do it?
I've got 2 funerals to go to this week. ...and they announced 2 other deaths this morning in church. Is it 2008 yet?????
Oh, btw "the mom", the soprano soloist sang "The Birthday of a King" (at my request) this morning. She did a great job - I cried! How many times did we hear Doris or Harold sing that at Christmas?
My knitting needles are screaming! Love to everyone. Scoots - any Christmas list requests and KYHD!
Anyway, Chase Collegiate aka St. Margaret's School has a penpal program where they match up an alumna with a current student in the Middle School. My penpal is Sammie and we were penpals when she was in third grade and now we're penpals again while she's in 5th grade. This is part of the letter I got from her yesterday - I laughed for 5 minutes!
"So any thing new happening? I have been playing tennis with my friend Jenny. She goes to Chase Collegiate School with me. I play at the Middlebury Racket Club. After school I go with Jenny to her house and her mom drives us to tennis. I think tennis is really fun. Do you play any sports even though you are an adult?"
I'll wait while you all compose yourselves.
Well, can't talk much here. I've got squash practice to go to except that it's snowing and my tennis racket needs restringing! Alas, I am relegated to sitting and knitting. How shall I do it?
I've got 2 funerals to go to this week. ...and they announced 2 other deaths this morning in church. Is it 2008 yet?????
Oh, btw "the mom", the soprano soloist sang "The Birthday of a King" (at my request) this morning. She did a great job - I cried! How many times did we hear Doris or Harold sing that at Christmas?
My knitting needles are screaming! Love to everyone. Scoots - any Christmas list requests and KYHD!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Another box #2
| DA - I got my last box mailed out to you today. I hope you and your buddies will have some fun with it even though it has nothing to do with computers or x-box 360! Heard you talked with the Dad today. That's great! I took care of the stuff you asked me about on Thursday. I delivered it in person, but Chelsey was busy at her appt that you had arranged for her. Hope it works?! We had some snow here Thursday, then rain and it has been cold, wet, and damp ever since. I think it is supposed to be like this through Tuesday. I would much prefer snow - I hope the weatherman is listening!! We have started receiving Christmas cards - I guess that means I need to start working on getting ours done. I'm debating on a Christmas letter this year. I may just do cards...we'll see. Having a tree up would probably help to get me in the spirit but that hasn't happened yet in spite of Katie promising she would do it now for about 2 weeks!! Shennie - I HOPE we have one up by the time you arrive!!! Not much in the way of news tonight. Hope all is well 1/2 way around the world. Stay safe and KYHD.... Love you, the Mom |
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Another Box
I went to the post office this afternoon and there is another box on its way. It was a comedy of errors! I had packed the box up over the weekend, but hadn't addressed it nor could I find the customs forms. So I show up at the post office 15 minutes before closing and I realize I haven't addressed the box. So I grab an address label and a bunch of customs forms and then realize that your address is out in my car! So I schlep out to the car in the bitter cold and am trying to get me and the box and the forms all into the car without everything blowing away. So I get in and then I'm digging for a pen in the bottom of my purse, the forms have all fallen on the floor on the other side of the car and I can't close the door because my coat is stuck! FINALLY I tossed everything on the passenger's seat and started acting rationally - one form at a time. ALAS - I finally got my you-know-what together and got it into the post office before they closed. I even remembered to grab more boxes on my way out and then almost dropped them on the way to the car. Now we know why I wasn't named Grace!
Say goodnight, Gracie!
KYHD!
/s
Say goodnight, Gracie!
KYHD!
/s
Monday, December 3, 2007
Mailed 4 boxes today
| DA - I mailed 4 boxes of "stuff" to you this morning. Hopefully they will make it by Dec 25th. The wrapped stuff is for Christmas and the other stuff you can use whenever.This "Flat Rate" postal stuff is cool! $8.95 anywhere in the world!! It will be even cooler if all the stuff makes it!! I will have another box on the way in the next few days. I have to see if I can get my box to fit into a Flat Rate box. I think I can so be watching for box #5. It was good to talk with you last evening. Perhaps one of these days I will figure out this Yahoo messenger system and we can chat online. I seem to be spending more time online these days! Well - we had some rain yesterday also! It would get dark, then get light, pour buckets for about 5 minutes and then clear up. It did this about 3 times and then it got VERY windy and the temperature dropped fom 65 degrees to 35 degrees! Today it is sunny and clear, but chilly. I LOVE IT!!! Luckily we missed the storm that hit the upper midwest with ice and snow. I'll take snow any day but the weatherman can keep his ice. Well - must finish my errands. I am off from work today since I worked the weekend. Stay safe (and dry!) & KYHD. Lots of love, the Mom |
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Sunday
It's snowing here! Just a taste of what is supposed to come. This has been a busy weekend. I left my house yesterday morning at about 9:45 and didn't get home (except for a quick bite to eat) until almost 5:00. Donut ~ you've got nothin' on your aunt! Scoots ~ I've got another box ready for you. Did you get 2 from me? So, I should hold off on the Twizzlers for a while? I went to AC Moore, Wally World, the Hallmark store, a photog shop (wait til you guys see what I got there!), the car dealer to have their sign taken off the back of my car or I would have to charge them $500/month for advertising space, the manicurist and the grocery store. I was wicked tired when I got back here. My back may never forgive me.
I now have to start organizing what I have and see what's still on the "to buy" list. Any special requests, DA? Did you get the 2 envelopes that were in one of the boxes? I'm just checking to make sure that everything arrived ok. I get nervous sending stuff that it all doesn't arrive. I've watched too many M*A*S*H episodes.
Today was the first Sunday in Advent AND Communion so it was a late morning and then we had the annual Messiah concert this afternoon. I didn't sing in it this year, but I am going to work to build up my stamina so that I can do it next year. It was an amazing performance. The chorus - made up of mostly our church choir members - was fantastic. Grandma I know was watching and was thoroughly impressed. Grandpa was saying, "Not another hallelujah!" "Don't make me sing another hallelujah!" I helped with the reception afterwards and got home just a little while ago - and it's SNOWING here. ON MY NEW CAR!!!!! Maybe if it snows enough, I won't have to go in tomorrow - I doubt that will happen - but I can hope. I've got so much to do here at the house. I may have to be sick one day this week.
Time to find something to eat for supper - I only had 2 pieces of cheese at the reception - I'm hungry!
It sounds like you're doing pretty well over there, Scoots; I think about you a whole lot and you're on the prayer list at church. You and your unit. Everyone echoes my sentiment - KYHD!!!!! You can go on to my blog and post any special requests. How do you like my new car?
To quote someone we all know and love, "BEHAVE YOURSELF!"
KYHD.
Love you,
A.S.
I now have to start organizing what I have and see what's still on the "to buy" list. Any special requests, DA? Did you get the 2 envelopes that were in one of the boxes? I'm just checking to make sure that everything arrived ok. I get nervous sending stuff that it all doesn't arrive. I've watched too many M*A*S*H episodes.
Today was the first Sunday in Advent AND Communion so it was a late morning and then we had the annual Messiah concert this afternoon. I didn't sing in it this year, but I am going to work to build up my stamina so that I can do it next year. It was an amazing performance. The chorus - made up of mostly our church choir members - was fantastic. Grandma I know was watching and was thoroughly impressed. Grandpa was saying, "Not another hallelujah!" "Don't make me sing another hallelujah!" I helped with the reception afterwards and got home just a little while ago - and it's SNOWING here. ON MY NEW CAR!!!!! Maybe if it snows enough, I won't have to go in tomorrow - I doubt that will happen - but I can hope. I've got so much to do here at the house. I may have to be sick one day this week.
Time to find something to eat for supper - I only had 2 pieces of cheese at the reception - I'm hungry!
It sounds like you're doing pretty well over there, Scoots; I think about you a whole lot and you're on the prayer list at church. You and your unit. Everyone echoes my sentiment - KYHD!!!!! You can go on to my blog and post any special requests. How do you like my new car?
To quote someone we all know and love, "BEHAVE YOURSELF!"
KYHD.
Love you,
A.S.
Ok...
So apparently the saying," When it rains, it pours," is really true. After I signed off last night, i was maybe laying in bed for about 15 minutes and it POURED like crazy. For a good 45 minutes. It was insane. I finally fell asleep and woke up to drizzle outside my tent. And all the wonderful Iraqi sand... Was lovely Iraqi MUD. And it sticks to Army boots like gum on a shoe. And today was equally crazy. First we had weather issues that kept us grounded. Then our Mission Commander laptop crashed on us. and then once we swapped laptops and got mIRC up and running all nice, the power strip to our DVD Recorder and Mission Commander (MC for future reference) burned up. Well, first it hummed at us. Then moments later black smoke shot out from EVERY outlet in the strip (and near the power button as well). So we unplugged the strip, then powered down the wall outlet locally (Middle East has power switches to the outlets). I then got the liberty of taking the smoking power strip out of the TOC (Tactical Operational Center) and let it cool off while we aired the rest of the TOC out. We then called our maintainers and had them come check out our power outlets and transformer. Once given the go on it, we used a spare powerstrip only to find out that we are grounded... AGAIN due to weather. We did not get a single flight up until 2212Local time. And all this time, I WAS the mission commander (first day on the job... wonderful). We did get an hour in prior to the craziness and it was cool because we got to talk to and chill with some SF (Special Forces - Secret) guys. They were awesome and invited us to come shoot with them(Shooting meaning raiding their arsenal of seized weapons (e.g. AK-47s, Dragonuv Sniper Rifle) as well as watch an explosive demo (controlled detonation).) So, how was everyone else's day???
~David
P.S. Shennie, I got your package today (That twizzler bag from before still needs to be finished off before opening this 2LBS bag... 2 LBS!!!)
~David
P.S. Shennie, I got your package today (That twizzler bag from before still needs to be finished off before opening this 2LBS bag... 2 LBS!!!)
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Nice lil break
So, after working for the past 12-odd days (with an actual day off), we got to experience... rain... Thats right, it rained here in iraq. And it was enough to ground ALL aerial vehicles that cannot for sometime. So Our job was put on hold only an hour into our 2nd mission. Crazy huh? I got to talk to Chelsey for a bit during the break between missions and even told her that with the way weather was looking, we might get grounded. And sure enough, the funny feeling in my bones paid off. Anywho, things are going good for the most part, except that despite regulations, they are saying that I may not get a CHU. Our PLT is certainly fighting for me and other operators currently without CHUs. Basically it was a matter of the other PLTs saying that "its not fair" (something that we get a lot of), and that we shouldnt get priority on CHUs even though it states directly in AR 95-23 that operators and maintainers will be granted hardened shelters due to the nature of our job. Basically, with needing crew rest (and 8 hrs uninterrupted sleep), we need to have a setting which can be achieved that way. Sleeping in tents that people constantly go in and out of, turning lights on and off, doesnt achieve that. With CHUs, we are typically on opposite shifts of our roommate, and we can lock the door and keep the lights off. But as they say, this is mission essential and sometimes you have to bend (or break) the regs to get the mission done. But we will see how long that lasts when there is an accident.
Well, no mail has come today, so I am still expecting packages from Shennie and The Mom, as well as the xmas/bday presents... Hopefully by that time, I will have my CHU (or permanent tent) and a working Xbox 360. Well, times a short and have to get my beauty sleep...
David
Well, no mail has come today, so I am still expecting packages from Shennie and The Mom, as well as the xmas/bday presents... Hopefully by that time, I will have my CHU (or permanent tent) and a working Xbox 360. Well, times a short and have to get my beauty sleep...
David
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